Sunrise. Sunset. This old world keeps spinning around. One day at a time, my life on this planet passes swiftly away. Someday it will end. It would make sense to prepare for that day. Jesus seemed to think it did. He talked about it a lot. He said things like “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.” and “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” and “Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” and “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me [these words may currently be my favorite words in Scripture]. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus seemed to think that I have something to look forward to. Something to plan for. He seemed to communicate that I have a guaranteed bright future, which allows me to build my present reality on the firm foundation of His truth.
So He said crazy things like, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.”, “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny, yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” and “But when you are arrested, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
He seemed to think that since He promised that He would be in my future, I am free to freely follow Him in the present. I can have confidence that even if there is a real cross in my future and even if I actually was crucified, in the end I would be saved.
I am beginning to learn that the only way for me to actually rest is to live day by day. I don’t have the answers for tomorrow. I simply don’t. I often don’t even know what I am going to do for work each day. (#sublife) I can stress myself to the max or just do what He asks me to do today.
During some segments of my life, my temporal future has looked very bright; so I have looked forward to it, ran toward it and stressed out whether what I thought would happen would really happen. What if I messed it up? What if it didn’t end up being as good as I dreamed it would be? What did I have to do today to ensure that it would actually take place? Which people and situations should I attempt to control?
At other times in my life, my temporal future has looked like it will really suck, so I dread it and run from it. I worry about how I can change it; I wonder about what I did to deserve it; I try my best to manipulate and control circumstances to change it.
Jesus told me that tomorrow will worry about itself. I needn’t worry because if I seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, He will provide me with food and clothes. He also promises that He will give me a hundred times as much as what I sacrifice for Him — that and eternal life.
A long time ago, I noticed He never promised me Starbucks or cable TV or fancy dinners or brand-name clothes. He didn’t say I would sleep at the Ritz or afford trips to Disney World. He never promised me dozens of pairs of shoes; instead He promised that the pair I had would not wear out if needed. He never promised movie tickets, ball gowns, chocolate, spacious homes, health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance or air conditioning, etc. etc. etc.
But He did promise that He clothes the grass of the field, and He will also clothe me. He feeds the birds of the air, and He will also feed me.
Confidence. I can have confidence in the future He has promised me. I can come to Him and rest in the firm assurance of future glory. I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. He has provided for it, and it is capable of worrying about itself.
I wonder if tomorrow’s job is worrying about itself? :)
Do you worry about the future? How do you interact with Jesus’ promise that if you follow Him, your future is secure?
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