Good News about the Future
In whose hands lies the future? Most Christians would say God holds the future in his hands, but do they really believe it? Do I really believe it? The question of Man’s responsibility related to God’s providence is not easy to reconcile or even comprehend. The Bible says some remarkably strong things about God’s control over everything; after all, he is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. The only way we can conclude that God is not in control is if, for some reason, He chooses not to be.
Yet, He does hold us accountable for our choices, our irresponsibility, and our sin. He says we “reap what we sow.” He will forgive us of the judgment we deserve, and we will free us from the bondage to our sin. Yet, he permits us to endure the consequences of our choices. To further complicate our understanding, we live in a world where we suffer the effects of the sins of other people and the corruption of the creation itself because of sin, starting with Adam. It is plain, the Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said, “In this world you will have troubles,” or when he said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Over against that rather gloomy prospect are numerous promises—a Holy Spirit to guide us, the privilege of prayer to seek God’s intervention, and the assurance of blessings in a variety of situations. “All things work together for good for those who love God” sound pretty positive until we take into account that what is good for us may not be enjoyable (as most of us learned when we were children). It’s great to know that we can “cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us,” yet we often wish caring meant blocking the unpleasant things we have to endure.
That brings us to the election or to any election, for that matter. In this event lie all the varied and confusing principles that puzzle and trouble us. We have choices, but God is sovereign over all. Christians vote as citizens, but a majority of voters are most likely not believers. God seems to have had a plan and purpose for these United States of America, but that destiny seems to have ended or, at least, been interrupted. We pray, some of us anyway, and yet things don’t go as we assume they should if God is listening.
I suspect that the biggest problem is that too many of us say we trust God then proceed to place our trust somewhere else—in the government, in our investments, in ourselves. The Proverbs say, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” The promises are clear, but the conditions are just as clear…not easy, but clear!
Psalm 37 is just as clear: “He will give you the desires of your heart.” The righteous will endure and prevail, and the wicked will be gone. Again, there are conditions: “Commit your way to the Lord;” “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Perhaps the biggest danger for believers today is compromise; we want the blessings and yet to hang on the “the sin that so easily entangles.” Thus the advice is to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
In other words, no matter how bad things look (and even more when times seem good) no matter if evil seems to have the upper hand, hang in there. This isn’t sanctimonious drivel; it is God’s honest truth, a commodity in rare supply in these times. Trust God, do good, don’t give up, and you will “inherit the land.”