The shaft of the arrow of
time is the present. It is the
present that holds the past (fletching) together with the future (arrowhead). It is the present that is a gift from God.
That’s why it is called the present.
This is the time that we have to go with the Lord from the past into
the future. What does the future hold?
Let’s see.
We should all be concerned
about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.
-- Charles F. Kettering, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 4.
Epigram On New Year
•
No matter what a man’s past may have been, his future is spotless. —John
R. Rice[1]
Scripture Text: Jer.
29:10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for
Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back
to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I
will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all
your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will
bring you back from captivity. I
will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished
you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from
which I carried you into exile.
What does the future hold? I don’t know. But,
I know who holds the future.
What does the future look
like when you look through the eyes of the Lord?
God has a plan.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future. God wants to give the best He can afford to
His children. God’s plan for
prosperity for His children include the way of the cross.
Just as His Son carried His cross, He calls us to carry ours.
God has a promise.
Jer. 29:10 This is what the LORD says:
"When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and
fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place 12 Then you will
call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will
seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
God who cannot lie wants to assure you of His truth in giving to
you His best.
God has a place for you
(in the present and in the future).
14 I will be found by you," declares the
LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.
I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished
you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from
which I carried you into exile."
What is your plan?
Do you have a plan for your future?
Does your plan for the future
include the Lord, His worship, and His work?
Does your plan for the future include the best for you and yours?
Then does it include the Lord?
What is your promise?
If you accept the Lord’s promise
isn’t that your promise to the Lord? He
says if you will seek me with your whole heart then I will hear you.
Will you seek the Lord in the New Year with your whole heart?
What will be your place
for the future? The
Lord’s place for you is with Him. He
wants you to be with Him and go with Him into the future.
His future for you is the best possible plan and path for your life.
He loves you.
"He
was just a little fellow. His mother died when he was just a child. His
father, in trying to be both mommy and daddy, had planned a picnic. The little
boy had never been on a picnic, so they made their plans, fixed the lunch, and
packed the car. Then it was time to go to bed, for the picnic was the next
day. He just couldn't sleep. He tossed and he turned, but the excitement got
to him. Finally, he got out of bed, ran into the room where his father had
already fallen asleep, and shook him. His father woke up and saw his son. He
said to him, "What are you doing up? What's the matter?"
The boy said, "I can't
sleep."
The father asked, "Why can't
you sleep?"
In answering, the boy said,
"Daddy, I'm excited about tomorrow."
His father replied, "Well, Son,
I'm sure you are, and it's going to be a great day, but it won't be great if
we don't get some sleep. So why don't you just run down the hall, get back in
bed, and get a good night's rest."
So the boy trudged off down the hall
to his room and got in bed. Before long, sleep came--to the father, that is.
It wasn't long thereafter that back was the little boy. He was pushing and
shoving his father, and his father opened his eyes. Harsh words almost blurted
out until he saw the expression on the boy's face. The father asked,
"What's the matter now?"
The boy said, "Daddy, I just
want to thank you for tomorrow."
When I think of my past and the fact
that a loving Father would not let me go, reached down in his divine
providence, and lifted me off of the streets of Harlem, when I think of what
he has done for me and then think that he is planning a new thing for me that
will surpass the past, let the record show this night in this place that
Benjamin Reaves testified, Father, I want to thank you for tomorrow!
--Benjamin
Reaves, "Living Expectantly," Preaching Today, Tape No. 65.
[1]Tan,
P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of
Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and
Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.