A Formula for Facing the Future
Chuck Sligh
January 5, 2014
TEXT: Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
INTRODUCTION
To understand better our text, let’s look at the context of which verse 29 is a part. Look with me at Deuteronomy 29:1-5 – “These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. 2 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; 3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: 4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.”
Verses 1-5 form the introduction of Moses’ farewell speech before departing to the mountain to die just before the Israelites were to enter into the Land of Promise.
It’s in this extended speech we find verse 29 (READ AGAIN:) – “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
The people of Israel were at a threshold.
• BEHIND them were the promises of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the golden calf, faithlessness and grumbling.
• BEFORE them was the Promised Land—a place of great promise and great potential…but also a place of uncertainty and danger.
We too stand at a threshold—not of a new land, but of a new year.
• BEHIND us are God’s provision of salvation; the experience of both successes and accomplishments as well as hardships and blessings—and, unfortunately, the memory of sins, faithlessness, and grumblings.
• BEFORE us are many promises and potentials, but also, many uncertainties and dangers—national, community, family, personal.
We’re like the Israelites in this passage—ready to march forward, yet somewhat fearful. In our text, God gives to us, as He gave to Israel, a formula for facing the future. Let’s look at that formula:
I. THE FIRST PART OF THE FORMULA IS THIS: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God…”
The “secret things” are the things we don’t know about, but the Lord does…
• Such as national and international events.
On a national scale, who knows how the economy will go in 2014?
Who can say if results of the our efforts in Iraq will be permanent?
Who knows what gruesome surprises Al Queda has in store for us?—OR—maybe Al Queda will be dealt a fatal blow in 2014.
Who knows? It’s a secret known only to the Lord our God.
• The secret things Moses refers to also include things PERSONAL—our health, financial success, job security, the state of our marriages.
You may have another year of good health, or you may lose your health entirely—or for that matter, you might even pass from this life to the next.
Financially, your ship might finally come in—or you might go bankrupt.
You may get a promotion—or you may not.
• The secret things also include THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH.
What may God have in store for Grace Baptist Church in 2014 and beyond?
Will we grow, or will we stagnate?
Will there be revival, or will there be church problems?
Will we hold fast to our duty, or scatter and desert our post?
Who knows?
These things, our text tells us, “belong unto the Lord our God.” They’re for HIM to know, not us.
In a sense, I believe this is an act of mercy. Matthew 6:34 tells us, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” In other words, we have enough to worry about TODAY without having to worry about tomorrow and the future.
Aren’t you glad you don’t know what the future holds? It’s really of God’s grace and kindness that He doesn’t lift the vale to let us see all that will happen in the next year. The Bible says that these things belong to the Lord our God.
As I ponder this truth, I can think of two implications for us today:
• The first is that we should not be obsessed with looking into the future.
Many people in the secular world are preoccupied with astrology and psychic predictions—to get a glimpse of what the future holds for them. But God has already told us everything we need to know already about the future in His Word—the Second Coming; the Tribulation; and so on. Beyond that, God has forbidden us to try to peer into the future. He wants us to trust in HIM for the future, and all attempts to circumvent simple trust in God through palm readers and astrology and psychics are forbidden by Scripture, Satanic in origin and spiritually dangerous.
But even Christians can become preoccupied with best–selling, conflicting interpretations of prophecy. We as Christians can develop an unhealthy preoccupation with the future. Yes, we should know the Bible outline of His future plans, but I’ve seen people become so engrossed with the minutia of what every single world event means that they lose sight of their everyday duties as Christians.
• The second implication: if the future belongs to God, we shouldn’t worry about it!
Some things are simply beyond our control and responsibility.
Matthew 6:27 says, “Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit to your stature?”
That’s a good question. Who CAN add even a tenth of an inch to our height by worrying about it? Well, if you can’t change it, why worry about it? Why waste time and energy worrying about things over which we have little or no control?
GOD knows the future. Yes, we should plan and prepare, but God says we should not worry. Ultimately, in the end, what’s going to happen WILL, whether you worry about it or not—so what value is there is fretting, worrying or fearing?
Paul says in Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be careful [or “anxious”] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Folks, learn the first part of God’s formula for the future: Future things belong TO HIM.
II. NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE SECOND PART OF THE FORMULA: “…but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
We’re not to assume for ourselves the things that belong to God—but neither are we to leave for God the things that belong to us. We’re to make use of our minds, bodies, talents and gifts for the glory of God. The things that belong to us are the things we know about and can do something about. The things that belong to us are our responses to the plain teachings of Scripture.
The Israelites failed in the things that belonged to them. God promised the Israelites the Promised Land if they’d go in by faith and take it. But because of fear and faithlessness, they wouldn’t go in and thus, God barred that entire generation from ever going in. That honor was left for the next generation. They missed God’s best because of fear and faithlessness and disobedience.
Let me share some applications of this truth:
• You don’t know if you’ll die of cancer—that’s a hidden thing that belongs to God—but you do know the effects of bad habits that can lead to cancer and harm your body, God’s temple and you can do something about them. – That’s one of the “things that belong to us.”
• You don’t know exactly how your children will turn out, but you do know your responsibilities to rear them up in the discipline and teaching of the Lord. Stop worrying about the future, and focus on YOUR part to impact the future. Set goals for your kids; hold them accountable; be tough on them; expect the best out of them today, but leave what happens after that to the Lord.
• You don’t know if a friend of yours will accept Christ this year, but you do know your responsibility to do all in your power to bring him to Christ.
• You don’t know what the future holds for our church, but you do know you should serve God in it, attend its services, and support it financially.
Oh, that we would stop worrying about “the things that belong unto the Lord our God” and start focusing on the things that “belong unto us.” Even in the things which belong to us, we don’t have to face them alone!
Go with me to Deuteronomy 31:8 – “And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee: he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Oh, what a wonderful promise!— He will not fail you or forsake you. That’s a promise from God! So…Moses concludes “…fear not, neither be dismayed.”
There are two instructions given to us here:
• First, “Don’t be afraid.”
Don’t be afraid of the future or fear the secret things that belong to God! God’s got them all under control, and as you go through the good days and the dark, He’ll both go BEFORE you and be WITH you—and He will not fail you, nor will He forsake you.
What more could you ask of God to do in your life?! So DON’T BE AFRAID!—Trust the Lord!
• Second, this verse commands, “neither be dismayed.”
The Hebrew word translated “dismayed” means “to be shattered, be broken, be abolished.”1 He’s saying, “Don’t be shattered; don’t be broken by the things you face in your life.” The English word dismayed conveys the idea of “depriving a person of courage or the power to act as a result of fear or anxiety.” 2
This year, this month, perhaps even this very day, you may be confronted with news that is so shattering, so devastating, and so difficult to bear that not only will you be filled with fear and anxiety, but you may be so shattered and dismayed, that you may feel powerless to act and do what you are called upon to do.
This is EXACTLY what God does NOT want you to do. You MUST do what you are given to do. God will not lay anything on you He knows you cannot bear.
God will not fail you, nor forsake you—but will you fail Him? Will you forsake your place of duty?—GOD FORBID!
CONCLUSION
So let this be our formula for the New Year… That we will grasp eagerly the responsibilities of today, for these things belong to us. And that we will leave for God the uncertain tomorrow, for that belongs to Him.
This is God’s formula for facing the future!
How can we bring this down to where we live?
• First, if you’re here and you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, let me encourage you to give your future to God.
Come to Him and be saved! You really don’t need to worry about the future when Jesus comes into your life. He’ll guide you and love you. He’ll give you a whole new family who’ll love and accept you. He’ll forgive you of your sins, and when you die, He’ll take you to heaven.
• Believer, I have a different application for you.
You cannot know the future, but you CAN affect the future by the choices you make.
> If you repent of a sin and forsake it, you can avert God’s judgment which could severely complicate your life in the next year.
> If you start serving God and others, you might avoid depression, because those who serve are the ones who are the most joyful and fulfilled in life.
> If you stop an unhealthy habit you know damages your body, God’s temple, you’ll extend your life and become a worthy example to your kids.
> If you stop gossiping, you’ll keep more friends and have closer friends.
> If you stop speaking harshly and being mean and unloving in your home, you’ll win the hearts of your kids.
You cannot know the future, but not only will the choices you make in 2014 have the power to affect YOUR life, they can have an eternal impact on OTHERS as well.
> By sharing Christ with a friend, he could trust Christ and have eternal life.
> By serving others, you can be a blessing in their lives.
> The right word in someone’s life could make their day—even save a life!
Illus. – I read about a woman who intended to commit suicide and was actually on her way to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump off of it. She hailed a cab to take her close to the bridge.
Little did she know that the driver was a Christian with a big mouth…and a big heart. She got in and told him where to go and he started talking up a storm. She was totally withdrawn and wished he would just shut up, but there was something that was different about him that intrigued her. He said, “Man, ain’t it good to be alive?”
“No, it isn’t,” she replied.
Locking eyes in the mirror, he said, “You’re right, sometimes it’s LOUSY to be alive. But you know what, livin’ beats the alternative. And I’ll go a step further, knowing Jesus is better than livin’ ‘cause he gives you peace and joy and purpose and meaning in life.”
She did not commit suicide that day. She got out of the taxi a couple of blocks from the bridge and started walking, but just couldn’t get his words out of her mind. She stopped right at the edge of the bridge, watching the cars go by; and then suddenly whirled around and bolted for home.
His words saved her life that day, and that Sunday she went to church. Six weeks later, the pastor of that church led her to Christ.
What you say can have tremendous impact on someone’s future. Be an encourager, a blesser, an edifier, a confessor of Jesus everywhere you go.
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Strong, J. (1996). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon (H2865). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
2 “Dismay,” American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Ed. (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1992), pp. 535-6.
