Our Future All Unknown?

Our Future All Unknown?

“O LORD, how long?”

When we are honest we admit that we don't like not being God. We would really rather be in control. We would much prefer having a functioning crystal ball. We don't like having to leave it with Him, and having to trust Him for our today, our tomorrows, and our forever. We continually struggle with taking our burdens, cares, concerns, and anxieties to His Throne, and simply leaving them there. Patiently waiting on the Lord — even with the cry on our lips “How long, Lord?” and “O Lord, how long?” (Psalms 6:3; 13:1-2; 35:17; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3; 94:4) — does not come naturally to us. It never seems to be enough to say we believe that He sees and knows and controls our present and our future as He has our past, and His sparrows, and our hairs. Such humble trust and confidence and hope only comes from the Scriptures by His Holy Spirit. It has never been otherwise, and never will be.

“Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.”

“Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

What we need to say everyday is “Lord, I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief!” Each and every day we must hear His words echoing within us, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Mt. 14:31 (cp. “O ye of little faith” in Mt. 6:30; Lk. 12:28; and 16:8), and “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Mt. 8:26). It is a faith issue, first, last and always. Thus has it always been. The eyes of faith look beyond today, and tomorrow. Faith looks above the strange land we are passing through as pilgrims, and the look of faith is directed to what God has revealed.

“Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?

To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?

Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.”

“…be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.”

Even were we able to “spy out the land” that lies ahead, without the faith of Joshua and Caleb we would not “be of good courage,” but focusing on the gigantic strength of our foes rather than on the goodness of God's provision (Num. 13) we would provoke him by preferring death to the challenges of obedience (Num. 14).

“If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”

“Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?

Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.”

Our future is not unknown to God. Not at all. Our future is not entirely unknown even to us, since God has revealed a good bit of it to us in His Word.

“It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,

and Jesus call to heaven's perfect peace.” [1]

“leave to your God to order and provide;

in ev'ry change he faithful will remain.” [2]

Sola Scriptura, Solo Christo, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Soli Deo Gloria,

John T. “Jack” Jeffery

Pastor, Wayside Gospel Chapel

Greentown, PA

23 APR 2020

[1] Edward Henry Bickersteth (1825–1906); on Hymnary at https://hymnary.org/text/peace_perfect_peace_in_this_dark_world_o [accessed 23 APR 2020].

[2] Kathrina von Schlegel, “Be Still, My Soul.” Trans. Jane Borthwick (1855); on Hymnary at https://hymnary.org/text/be_still_my_soul_the_lord_is_on_thy_side [accessed 23 APR 2020].