.jpg)
I think it’s natural to think about the future. It’s not natural, however, to carry a ton of anxiety about the future. So what does the Bible offer in terms of help about our worries about tomorrow?
One of the biggest helps Christians can apply at this point is to adjust our thinking about what the future is. When we think of the future, we think about later today, tomorrow, next week and next year all the way to the end of our physical lives, whenever that may be. God’s view of the future is not limited by time and space. He sees yesterday, today and tomorrow simultaneously, including eternity past and eternity future. So one way we can deal with our anxiety regarding the future is to understand our future in light of eternity. Even if I have 40 more years on earth, that is miniscule compared to an infinite eternity. Because we are eternal beings, we can relax in the hope that while “it” may not be ok, “I” will be ok.
How do we, then, orient our lives toward eternity? How do we live in God’s perspective on the future? I think we start down that path by asking better questions about our lives.
· What really counts?
· What will matter 1,000 years from now?
· What is eternally significant?
· What are my values?
· Am I loving God and loving others?
· Am I developing the Fruit of the Spirit in my life (Galatians 5:22-23)?
· Have I embrace my missional sentness into this world?
Maybe it’s time to be honest about the future. Maybe it’s time to admit that we’re naturally inclined to dwell on a brand of religion that focuses on morality, ethics, and self-help rather than pursuing life with the transcendent God. From God’s perspective, it’s not what happens to me that counts. It’s what happens in me.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:31-34
One of the biggest helps Christians can apply at this point is to adjust our thinking about what the future is. When we think of the future, we think about later today, tomorrow, next week and next year all the way to the end of our physical lives, whenever that may be. God’s view of the future is not limited by time and space. He sees yesterday, today and tomorrow simultaneously, including eternity past and eternity future. So one way we can deal with our anxiety regarding the future is to understand our future in light of eternity. Even if I have 40 more years on earth, that is miniscule compared to an infinite eternity. Because we are eternal beings, we can relax in the hope that while “it” may not be ok, “I” will be ok.
How do we, then, orient our lives toward eternity? How do we live in God’s perspective on the future? I think we start down that path by asking better questions about our lives.
· What really counts?
· What will matter 1,000 years from now?
· What is eternally significant?
· What are my values?
· Am I loving God and loving others?
· Am I developing the Fruit of the Spirit in my life (Galatians 5:22-23)?
· Have I embrace my missional sentness into this world?
Maybe it’s time to be honest about the future. Maybe it’s time to admit that we’re naturally inclined to dwell on a brand of religion that focuses on morality, ethics, and self-help rather than pursuing life with the transcendent God. From God’s perspective, it’s not what happens to me that counts. It’s what happens in me.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:31-34
No comments:
Post a Comment