A couple of days ago someone rang me from the USA. It was the 26th there and already the 27th in Australia. We are living in the future in Australia! We could be called the country of the future...
Do we care about our future? Some folk just want to live it up today and let tomorrow take care of itself. In fact Jesus said these words to those who are overly concerned about the future, so it is okay to think like that.
However, as citizens of the world we do need to leave a good place for those who will come after us. If we all squander the gifts of the world there will be nothing of beauty of worth left for the unborn today.
In history this was a crucial problem that had disasterous results. In the time of the captivity of Jerusalem we can read in the book of Lamentations that Jerusalem did not consider her future, but did evil as much as possible for human beings. In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord tells Jeremiah that he has plans for his people for good and not for evil, plans for their future and their glory. However, and sadly the truth is that in the book of Lamentations [probably written by Jeremiah] it says:
...she [referring to Jerusalem] took no thought for her future. If you read this whole book you will get an incling of the terrible things that were being done in Israel by the ruling people, the people with influence and wealth. If you read the book of Ezekiel it also gives many clues to the evil blood shedding in the city. God could watch his people behaving badly no longer, so he took them away to Babylon and Assyria, but even as it was happening, Jeremiah gave the word that the Lord would spare the King's life [Zedekiah], but he refused to believe the Word of the Lord, so lost his sons and was blinded and taken to Babylon in chains. The episode of Jeremiah in the cistern with his feet sinking in the mud was used by Jeremiah to explain graphically that the King was sinking in mud.
[Jer 38:6; 38:22]
All this sounds gruesome to us, but it not too different in any war zone around the world, where devastation is happening to people and battles are being fought.
What should we do about our future. There is an answer in 1 Tim 6:17: [remember this is the Apostle Paul's letter]
"Tell the rich not to be too high and mighty and not to trust in their riches, but to trust in God, who richly gives us everything to enjoy. They are to be generous with their wealth and do good works, which will mean they are storing up a good foundation for the future, which is truly life."
Paul, inspired by God, does not tell the rich to throw everything away, but to be guided by God to give to those in need and to appreciate what they have by giving God the glory. In other words, not to be selfish with their goods.
We can all learn to share a bit more, to give a bit more, to worry a bit less and to look to God a lot more! [speaking personally here]. Every one of us can sharpen up for God and gain the happiness that only God will provide. We will continue to have a future here and especially in the age to come when Christ Jesus will reign on earth. [Second coming of Christ]
So, what can we do today to prepare for the future: open our hearts to God, open our purses to the poor and needy and spend our time wisely doing good things instead of playing computer games all day and night as some might be tempted to do! [I love Solitaire 'difficult']
If you want these in hard copies: [both priced at $10.00[US$] each]my newest publication is Five Quick Sermons [52 pages], go to:
https://www.createspace.com/3457350
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=180147
The Gum Tree Gang and the Mystery at the Old Queenslander and my adult novel: Five Golden Rings and a Diamond,a fast-paced, sizzling romance set in Scriob, Ireland and Maryborough, Australia; in original cover:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/five-golden-rings-and-a-diamond/7638151Seltenrych's You can download [free] a copy, or purchase the printed version from me; simply fill in the form or contact me on email: marie@aussieoibooks.com.au for more information.
