Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
Have you ever stood at the edge of a new chapter in your life, wondering what lies ahead? Perhaps you’re there right now – facing decisions that could reshape your tomorrow, carrying dreams that seem just beyond your reach, or wrestling with uncertainties that keep you awake at night. In a world filled with change and unpredictability, how do we find the courage to move forward? Where can we place our hope when the road ahead seems unclear? Today, we’re diving into the timeless promises of God – truths that remind us that the One who holds the future is also holding us. Through Scripture, we’ll uncover how faith in God’s plan and His word will bring peace to our present and confidence in what’s to come. Be blessed as you read!
Do you have security about your job, your future and your finances? All of us have uncertainties in our lives. A person goes to work and is told, “We don’t need you anymore.” Jobs are uncertain. Health is uncertain. Relationships are uncertain. Families are uncertain. Everywhere you turn and everywhere you look, you may find yourself asking: What is security? What is certain? What can we be sure of anymore? However, I want to assure you that amidst all these uncertainties, your future can be brighter than you think. God has given every one of us a great future, but we need to accept that good future He has for us. God looks at your future, so take him seriously. What does God say about your future? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
The KJV translation says it this way:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)
When the time came for Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, he comforted his disciples with the following statements: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:1-6)
Do you know where you are going? Do you know what the future holds for you? Are you a believer in Christ Jesus? God says He will lead you to an expected end. Jesus says “I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”. When you recognize what you have and where you’re headed, you gain a profound spiritual perspective on everything happening in your life. All of a sudden you realise that it doesn’t matter what’s going on, I know what the future holds for me, I know where I’m going, and this is really important. As you observe the increasing darkness in the world, it’s natural to feel fear about what might happen, even as a believer in Christ. While you have confidence in your ultimate destination, you also recognize that there is much to face between now and the time when Jesus returns to take us home.
When you understand what you possess, who you belong to, and where you’re headed, it begins to alleviate the fear of things becoming increasingly darker. I no longer belong to this world, but while I am here, I can see the lost individuals who are imploding within themselves, and the situation will only worsen. However, this worsening reality emphasizes the importance of you and me standing up for the truth. Our commitment to truth becomes even more significant, illuminating, and contagious than ever before. This is when we let our light shine before others, so they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. Let this shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions and impact the way we live our lives. We can then gain new insights and find divine solutions to life’s challenges. When you have a clear sense of purpose, it becomes irrelevant if you face persecution or even if you are killed for your faith. I understand this might be difficult to hear, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter if you are murdered for your beliefs.
" When you understand what you possess, who you belong to, and where you're headed, it begins to alleviate the fear of things becoming increasingly darker. "
You come to a point where you realize that it doesn’t matter what your enemies try to do or what people say about you. It doesn’t matter if someone is trying to ruin your reputation, take your business, or undermine your family or your marriage. You fight for the things that matter and do so with the word of God. However, those things do not define you because you understand that you have a heavenly reward and a bright future ahead. In these moments, as your fear begins to dissipate, you start to experience supernatural peace. You can then approach a situation by saying, “Father, how am I supposed to respond?” Instead of reacting out of fear, you remember that you know what the future holds for you, that you understand where you are going, and that you have been brought to this moment for a purpose.
Know that you’re destined to make a difference. When you know where you’re headed, you realize that, in a sense, you’ve already won. Therefore, the question should be; Lord, how do I demonstrate Your victory from now until then? Stop striving for the world’s idea of success: the house, the car, being debt-free, education, furnishings, clothing, or whatever that looks like for you. Don’t be tempted by these material things and don’t let them become the mountain you try to reach. Instead, recognize that your true fulfilment comes from being with the Father and your focus between this life and heaven should be: Lord, how can I live in the abundance You’ve given me? How can I demonstrate all that I possess in You without chasing after what the world defines as success? I want to live out the success that comes from what we possess in Christ Jesus.
So, let me ask you again: what does the future hold for you? My friend, listen to me carefully. If you do not know God through His Son, Jesus Christ, you have no true security in your life. Without this connection, you lack a hopeful future and are likely to experience feelings of uncertainty, fear, anxiety, depression, and frustration. Even if you have all the money in the world to purchase anything you desire, you cannot buy good health. You cannot buy life or escape death. You cannot purchase access to heaven. As a result, everything becomes uncertain. No matter how many degrees you hold or how wise you seem to be, without Christ, your life is ultimately insecure.
The question we must consider is: How do we live? How can we navigate life with certainty in a world that is often filled with uncertainty and insecurity? There is a strong focus on security, benefits, and planning for the future. However, despite all the plans we make, the only genuine security we truly possess comes not from numerous relationships but from one specific relationship: a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is the only true foundation for security in our lives and in the life to come. Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”. You just need to look at things from God’s perspective and recognise that this life isn’t all there is.
As a matter of fact, the Bible says in Psalm 55:23, “But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you”. Evil and wicked men shall not live out half their days even in this life. You aren’t going to have true joy and peace in your heart if you aren’t seeking the Lord. Even if you never experience failure, if your finances never collapse, if your health remains stable, and if your marriage stays strong throughout your life, you will eventually stand before God. I assure you; He will judge you based on how you lived. You will have to answer for your choices and actions, and for some who were esteemed in this life, the outcome will be tragic and terrible for them.
