“Let the Future Begin”
When you go all out with Jesus, you burn all the bridges, you surrender the past and you willingly venture toward a new place-one that you have not seen before. Only then can the Holy Spirit have complete control. The Bible portrays this quality of life as a pilgrimage--one that we must relinquish control to.
We are here for a season, and then we move on. All incidents on earth are but training sessions for that which comes later. If we stop at any given place — at a house, at a relationship, even at an experience, (no matter how wonderful it is), then we miss what God has for us down the line. Our heart attitude must be becoming; “Let the Future Begin.”
‘The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.3 by faith; we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.’ (Hebrews 11:1-3, Msg)
Let’s be gut level honest; you and I came within an inch of giving up in 2014. We thought that the end had come. We cried out and even despaired as to the future being any better. This state of mind accentuated the negative experiences of 2014. What part of the past are you allowing to linger into the now? Hear this! God says that Hope has been born and His Grace will bring forth Great things in 2015. God is giving you and me a fresh Start with a New Beginning. (Watch for it!). God is saying that the pains of last year were labor pains for the Birthing of New Blessings in 2015. Consider the word picture King Solomon.
‘You’ve captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One looks my way and I was hopelessly in love! How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend— far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine, your fragrance more exotic than select spices.’ (Song of Solomon 4: 9-10, Msg)
Again; Let the Future Begin! Let our hearts be homesick for the courts of God — not for what lies in the past. If there is to be nostalgia, let it be for what is yet to come, not for what was.
It’s difficult to understand — God is invisible and we are looking for something tangible; like a roof over our heads, someone to hold our hand, a lap to sit on.
“That’s the reason we want to return to the old homestead, or visit the cemetery and place flowers every Saturday morning on our mother’s grave, or carry the torch for some old flame vowing we’ll never marry. That’s the reason many widows refuse to consider a second marriage; their dead husbands remain their “place” — rather than the living God.
“But the call of God is to move upward and forward; beyond mother and daddy, beyond that aunt or uncle who was so meaningful to us, beyond that gray-haired grandmother who let us sit on her lap or snuggle into bed beside her, beyond that old house where we were raised as a child, beyond the childhood romance and all the misspent dreams of how it could have been, beyond all that to the tabernacle (dwelling place) of God. In the abiding place of God there is satisfaction for every need.” (Jamie Buckingham, Where Eagles Soar.)
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NKJV). If that’s not hopeful unto 2015, I don’t know what is!
Consider one example among many: For friendship to be worth anything, innocence is a non-negotiable-The innocence Adam walked in before the fall is the same innocence that Christ enjoys in union with his Father and is now the restored privilege of every human. (From my book “Divine” Embrace available in Print or on Kindle)
“Where does God fit into the story of my life (my journey)?” When the real question is, “Where does my little life (journey) fall in the great story of God’s mission?” Christopher J. H. Wright
Like it or not, our lives are a part of a much larger story. Everything we do in our journey, from the most trivial and even mundane, to handling the most serious of family crises becomes part of our life story (2014) and thus our inner and outer journey. Everything that happens to us in our journey; wonderful things, terrible things, and everything in between advances the plot of our story and journey. The following Psalm injects hope for 2015!
A David Psalm
1 Light, space, zest—
that’s God!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
2 When vandal hordes ride down
ready to eat me alive,
those bullies and toughs
fall flat on their faces.
3 When besieged,
I’m calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose,
I’m collected and cool.
4 I’m asking God for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate his beauty;
I’ll study at his feet.
5 That’s the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world,
the perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.
6 God holds me head and shoulders
above all who try to pull me down.
I’m headed for his place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof!
Already I’m singing God-songs;
I’m making music to God.
7-9 Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs:
“Be good to me! Answer me!”
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”
my whole being replied,
“I’m seeking him!”
Don’t hide from me now!
9-10 you’ve always been right there for me;
don’t turn your back on me now.
Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;
you’ve always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
but God took me in.
11-12 Point me down your highway, God;
direct me along a well-lighted street;
show my enemies whose side you’re on.
Don’t throw me to the dogs,
those liars who are out to get me,
filling the air with their threats.
13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God. (Psalm 27, Msg)
Does this New Year promise and breathe out with new hope? I think so! A friend recently challenged me with this question, ‘the greatest promise of God is that He will fulfill all His promises.
2014 Lingers, But 2015 will prove to Overcome! Ron Ross
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