Yogi Berra once said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” This statement is profound, given our current circumstances, adroit silliness aside. Perhaps one of the bright spots that will emerge from the epic tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic will be an uptick in people regarding their future with sober consideration.
We humans have always been time wasters, viewing each moment as preparation for some epic point down the road, some defining future event or position in which we can declare, “Ah, finally, my life has begun!” Though I in no way subscribe to the worldview of Dr. Wayne Dyer, perhaps he had it right when he wrote, “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. The future is not guaranteed.” And from playwright Tennessee Williams, “The future is called ‘perhaps,’ which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is to not let that scare you.”
How many moments have we been blinded to because our eyes were dimmed by worry over things to come? Life screams by, we are powerless to stop it, and worldly wisdom counsels us to fret. But we who follow Christ have a hope bred from promises from a steadfast God. Our future is set and secure, which frees us to live each moment in radical obedience to him.
This is not to say that in the span of time there will be nothing to fear. Of course the future is scary in its uncertainty, and the reality is that all of us will experience some degree of suffering and trial at some point in our lives. That’s the nature of the world.
But the greater reality is that God, the creator of all things, holds the future. There is no other way to say this without sounding trite, but it is the truth, believe it or not. Through our natural fear of what life might hold, we are assured by the marvelous actuality that God is good. Certainly, he is great, he is omniscient and omnipresent, omnipotent, and yes, even wrathful. But he is, to his core, good. In fact, he is goodness itself. He is good when it is sunny and he is good in the storm. He is good in times of peace and in times of war. He is good when we are whole, when we are broken, when we are in pain, when we have plenty, when we have loss, when we are happy, and when we are grieving. God’s goodness is the linchpin of our assurance.
Perhaps Dr. Dyer had it wrong after all. This life is a rehearsal, and my future is guaranteed.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25
Reflect
Read the following Scriptures. Write a short commentary on what each passage says about God’s view of your future, and what the future holds for those who follow Jesus Christ.
Pray
Dear Father, thank you that you are good and can be trusted with what lies ahead. Help me to remember there is no other future but the one that you ordained for me from the beginning of time. Help me with my fear of the future, and with my commandeering of it for my own purposes. I declare this day that you are worthy of my trust, because your heart is full of compassion, mercy, and a great love for those whom you call your own. Amen