Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Back to the Future- Now for Now!

"The future- I gotta check this out, Doc." - Marty McFly on October 21, 2015 in "Back to the Future Part II"
Yay for Back to the Future Day! (Yes, it's finally October 21, 2015! Great Scott! Whoa! This is heavy, Doc. :-)) One of my favorite movie series ever! In Part III, Doc tells Marty and Jennifer that their future hasn't been written yet- no one's has. Your future is whatever you make it- so make it a good one, both of you.
This is kind of a paradox here (hopefully not the kind that destroys the whole universe). Psalms 139:16 says that our future is written because God has written in His book every one of the days that were formed for us. Yet while God knows everything and knows our future, we do not. But we are called to play a role in shaping our future, in which sense Doc was correct. According to Proverbs 24:20, there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. But for those who have put faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, we have a future and a hope in Christ as Jeremiah 29:11 says. (Yes, I know that promise is specifically for the Israelites at that particular time in history. Nonetheless, we know from verses like 1 Corinthians 2:9 that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has imagined what God has in store for those who love Him. As Proverbs 23:17-18 tells us, when we continue in the fear of The Lord, surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Just note that the good God has in mind for us may not be the same good we might think of- we are promised suffering for following Christ( John 16:1-4)- but as Romans 8:28-29 says, God works all things together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose- which is to conform us to the likeness of His Son. So that good might include hard times and suffering- and the good it results in is us being more like Jesus- the only One who is good.) As Lamentations 1:9 laments of Jerusalem, "Her uncleanness was in her skirts; She did not consider her future." (Much like the poor Martin McFly of the 1800s who never considered his future. ;-) Of course, the Marty McFly of 1985 affirmed that when it comes to the future, "I think about it all the time.")
1 Timothy 6:17-19 instructs the rich of this age not to put their trust in uncertain wealth, but rather in God, Who is always certain. They should be generous with their wealth and so store up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. Paul says that a crown of righteousness is laid up for him in the future which The Lord will award on that Day (of The Lord)- and not only to Paul, but to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
That's how we can determine our own future in a sense. When we put faith in Jesus' death and Resurrection to pay for all our sins and follow Him, we know we have a future forever in Heaven with Him. But don't wait for the future to make that choice (we don't know if we have one!- James 4:14, Proverbs 27:1)
In keeping with both BTTF II and 2 Corinthians 6:2- the future is now! Today is the day of salvation! Call on The Lord while you may be saved! Forever's gonna start tonight (if you put faith in Christ. John 10:10)
"Would that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would discern their future!" (Deuteronomy 32:29)

2 comments:

  1. Good post, Nate! The future is yours! ;)

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  2. Thanks, Kevin! Keep pondering the past, pressing forward in the present and looking forward to the future! :-)

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