The Future: a time of Dread or a time of Anticipation!

Probing Proverbs 11:23  The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.

Sometimes the reality of Truth is difficult to accept, but that does not change what the reality is. This story illustrates that Truth:

"A preacher brought a wonderful sermon on the depravity of the human heart. And when he finished his message, someone came to him and said, 'I want you to know I can't swallow it…that depraved heart that you preached about.' The preacher smiled and said, 'You don't have to swallow it.  It's already in you!'"

This Proverb slaps us in the face with a very serious and guaranteed reality. 

Let’s approach it from the two vital and pivotal thoughts:

“Look Forward” & “Can Expect Only”

For those that live close to God, they have a great expectation, an exciting anticipation of God rewarding them. 

For those that live a life where God either is just an extra ingredient or not acknowledged at all, they have a heavy burden hanging over their head that they do everything they can to not think about.

This leads to diametrically opposing experiences to this life. When you approach life with the excitement that no matter what happens, at the end of the journey you will meet a delighted, embracing Creator that desires to overwhelm you with His riches and grace, because you chose to spend this life in a relationship with Him, hope is never lost and you know that everyday is a new beginning. However, if your approach to life is with a nervous expectation to give an account to some kind of deity, which you do not have a relationship with or even know “if” he exists, that unknown will haunt your nights, and make you dread the thought of death. No one likes the idea of dying, I know I certainly do not, but I am not afraid of death. Dying is how you get there, I want to just go to sleep and wake up in eternity, but death is simply a move of address, from the physical realm to the spiritual realm. I know from Scripture where that destination is, and it brings a peace into my life that delivers me from the fear of “what’s next?”

I have been in ministry since 1976, and I have been around many, many individuals that do not claim to have a relationship with their Maker. Their approach to life is controlled by circumstances and is left up in their mind to fate. What a terrible way to live. No confidence in what will take place after this physical life. The most tragic aspect of this is that no one has to exist this way. God has paved a way right to His house for anyone that wants to live with Him. It does require a loss of self-dependence and arrogant pride…but that is all! All the work that is required to procure a guaranteed place at God’s table was accomplished by Jesus Christ. We either embrace it and trusting in His work, thereby entering into a peace concerning “what’s next?” Or we continue to go our own way and hope we can figure it out, numbing ourselves from the concern of the unknown of “what’s next” through activities, pleasures and money…yet, still having to deal with that fear when we awake alone at night, suffer a great loss or face a terminal illness.

Refuse to be one that can “only expect"! Instead live with God and become a person that can "look forward" to a known future!

Have you ever considered trusting your eternal existence to the God that made you? It is not difficult to do, but your flesh will make it difficult to understand. In this world whenever we get something we must work for it. However, God does not let us have a part in Salvation. He did it all. Jesus Christ came and lived a sinless, perfect life and then offered that life as a payment for our sin. He was tortured and crucified, He chose to let this happen because it would pay the price for our sin. On the cross Christ took the wrath of God to pay for everyone's sin. But, He does not make individuals receive this forgiveness, He has left it up to their choice. If yo want Christ's sacrifice to remove your sins and make you a child of God, you must decide that for yourself. You let Him know by praying to Him which only means talking to Him. This is the prayer I prayed - if it reflects your heart pray it also:

Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I know that I cannot live a perfect life. I believe my sin separates me from You and that when I die I will face judgment from You. I believe that Jesus is God in the flesh and that He came and lived a perfect life. I believe He was Crucified for my sin, died, was buried and rose again three days later. I believe He now has the right to offer me forgiveness of my sins, eternal life and make me a child of God. Jesus, please forgive me of my sins, and be my Lord and Savior. I now place my complete trust in what You did on the cross and claim You as my Lord and my God. Thank You for saving me! I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen. 

If you pray this...meaning it...you are now a child of God. Please let me know so I can pray for you!