Back to the Future

We're all moving into our futures together. Some of know where we're going. Some of us think we know where we're going. Most of us have no clue where we're going. If you believe in the Bible you have a sense however tenuous that God is ultimately in control. When disaster strikes, doubt gets a foothold and anxiety crowds out our dreams and vision of a good future. Sometimes the very thing we need to establish a prosperous future gets waylaid by a seemingly random tragedy. Do we REALLY believe that God works all things together for the good of those who love him, those who are called according to HIS purpose? Our knowledge of what we really believe is subject to unannounced exams. They are called trials and not mid-terms! God is at work not trying to make our lives "easier" but more pure and truly Holy. We want safe and predictably happy lives immune from life's tragedies. But that life is a myth and a deception. Even if it was real it wouldn't satisfy because God wouldn't be there. It's interesting that God takes a different view of tough times. In the book of James he tells us "Consider it a great joy, my brothers whenever you experience various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Some of us will get to our future and not like ourselves very much. We might try to skip our real life exams and become people who lack the maturity and character we need to live in our future. It's time to admit we need to allow God to test us, try us and mature us... so we can get back to the future God has prepared for us! See you there!

Jim