How Do You See Your Future?
Introduction
There are certain things in your future that you cannot control. Things such as accidents, the economy, natural catastrophes, and other peoples’ actions are largely beyond your control. However, you do have decision making power in your final spiritual outcome. Jesus talks about his in Matthew 25:31-40, our text for today. He points to the future and He reveals that He will judge mankind.
Once upon a time a frog lived in a swamp and was worried about his future. He decided to go to the squirrel who, it was said, could disclose the future. The squirrel looked into her crystal ball to see the future of the frog. She told him, “You are going to meet a beautiful young lady. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you — you will fascinate her.”
The frog was thrilled with the good news. As he was leaving, he turned to the squirrel and said, “By the way, where will I meet this girl?”
The squirrel replied, “At her Biology class!”
Sometimes it is better not to know the future! It is always good to trust your future to God.
People today are very concerned about their future. They watch the stock market, listen to the news about the economy, and hear about wars and rumors of war around the world. They worry about their jobs and keeping their homes. They look to the future concerning their retirement plans and hope that one day they can retire without the fear of running out of money before they run out of years.
Your life consists of three parts – past, present and future. Regardless of who we are, where we live, or what we you possess, we have been given a past, present, and future. In this Scripture, Jesus is talking of a future time when He will judge all nations. Jesus explained who would be there - all nations, and why they will be there - to be judged. We He speaks of all nations, Jesus is speaking of all people throughout all time - and that includes you and me.
This morning, I want you to consider your future. I want you to know that your future has possibilities, and they will depend upon you and the decisions you make and actions you take.
I. Your Future Can Be Bright Through Faith
Faith in the Lord can give you several blessings in life. That faith can reveal things to you as well.
A. The Character Of God
1. God’s Interest in Us
Faith in God helps you to understand the nature of God. God was and is interested in mankind, from Adam and Eve to you and me. God is interested in you as an individual. Remember this when life is difficult and you feel discouraged and hurt by the things of life. He wants a relationship with you. Most of all, God is interested in everyone here in regard to sin. He loves you and wants you to be saved.
2. God’s Involvement With Us
God was and is involved in mankind, from before you were born and for always, God will be involved in your life! He is so involved in human life that His Son came into this world to die for us at Calvary.
B. The Compassion Of God
Read the Bible, and notice where God was moved by the wants, needs and hurts of mankind. As I said, He was moved by our sin condition so deeply that He sent His only Son to die for us.
But, He is also concerned about our human condition and the daily needs we have. He is always willing to do something about the human condition. Look at the call of Moses, the call of Isaiah, and the ministry of Jesus. The Lord heard the cry of people and sent someone to be His representative to them in their need. The ultimate representative was God in human form – Jesus Christ! You read the New Testament and see how deeply Jesus was moved by people who were blind, lame, hungry and hurting in daily life.
The Lord expects us as Christians to have faith in Him and serve people for Him! People who were willing to have faith in God and do His will accomplished great things and had the compassion of God on their lives.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “If we could only read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each man’s life sorrow enough to disarm all hostility.” Indeed, people everywhere are suffering from some malady, hardship, inner struggle, sin, addiction, fear, etc. Remember that God’s compassion extends to everybody! And, He will save all who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ.
C. The Conduct Of God
Again, look in the Bible about the conduct of God. He expects a certain level of holiness in our everyday lives, and part of that holiness is caring about the hurts and struggles of others. Your faith will show you the need of others and will cause you to conduct yourself in line with God’s wisdom. You will see the hungry, and feed them; you will see the thirsty, give them something to drink. If you hear of the need, and cannot go yourself, will give so that others may go and ministry to those who are hungry, thirsty, in prison, and are lost in sin. You will pray for those who are in need and for those who go to minister to them. Faith will cause you to act in the “conduct of God.”
II. You Future Will Be Bleak In Fear
If you are not living by faith, then you are living by fear. Fear will show itself in several ways.
A. Fear’s Attitude
1. Pride
William Barclay wrote that, “Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow.”
It was C.S. Lewis who said, “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.”
The pride of possession can lead to the sin of neglecting the needs of others. It can cause us to live in a pride that shuts out the hurting world and only compares our lives with those slightly above us; so that, we are always trying to be a little better than the “Joneses.”
2. Pity
Pity is the opposite of pride. Both are centered around “Self.” Pride thinks too much of his self and pity thinks only of what one does not have. Both pride and pity will halt your spiritual growth and will make you of little or no use to the Lord. Someone well said, “A man all wrapped up in himself, makes a mighty small package!” When it is all about you, then you don’t care about anyone else! Feeling sorry for your self all the time is pity. It is a life Jesus did not live and does not give to His people.
3. Prejudice
This is when you feel better or superior to someone else! It can be race, religion, gender, or even something a simply as a different perspective on life or an issue at hand. Prejudice will disable you in the service to God because you feel someone is not as valuable as you are!
B. Fear’s Action
Fear will lead you to…
1. Do Nothing
There was a woman who lived and died in small town. It is apparent from the epithet on her tombstone that she lived in fear it reads:
“Here lies the bones of Nancy Jones, For her life held no terrors.
She lived an old maid.
She died an old maid.
No hits, no runs, nor errors.”
Apparently Nancy Jones was unwilling to take a chance in life because she lived in fear. Many people fail to serve God and others because they live in fear rather than faith. Fear decides to “do nothing.”
2. Feel Nothing
Fear can lead us to feel nothing about the hurts and struggles of others. Earlier in this professional basketball season, I went to an Atlanta Hawks basketball game with my father-in-law and two of his friends. As I was leaving Phillips Arena, a man approached me and handed me some pamphlets concerning downtown Atlanta. He then asked me for money. I was embarrassed to tell him I didn’t have any money on me. I probably would have given him some money if I had been carrying any with me. I certainly felt for the man and his situation. No doubt the man needed help. Sometimes we cannot give because at the moment we are not able to do so. But, it is sad when you will not give because you do not feel any pity or sympathy for hurting people. We must never let fear keep us for sharing with others.
3. Represent Nothing
A Christian may be immature or unenthusiastic, but should never be unrecognizable. You may be inconsistent but never indistinguishable from the world. Fear can cause us to fit in with the world to the point that the world cannot tell the difference between the Christian and the non-Christian. In fact, Jesus said that we are not attempt separating the wheat (Christians) for the tares (non-Christians) in this life. He will do that at the judgment. And, believe me He knows the difference between what is real faith and what is fake!
Peter Marshall wrote, ”It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.” You are not saved by your works, but you will be known by them.
III. Your Future Can Be Blessed With The Father
At the Judgment there will be no excuses! We live to make excuses in our day. When asked questions about our failures, when can always come up with a reason. “Why wasn’t your homework completed?” – “The dog ate it!”
“Why isn’t your bed made?” – “Somebody must have slept in it after I left this morning!”
“Why did you wreck your car?” – “That tree came out of nowhere and hit my car right in the middle of the front bumper and hood.”
At the judgment, you will face the One who knows the truth about your attitudes and actions. For those who know Christ, and serve Him, you will be blessed in the presence of your Heavenly Father.
Faith saves, but faith also produces works! Faith without works is dead. Works can’t save you, but a life without works for the Lord reveals a lack of saving faith. Christians are known by their fruit – that is, their faith produces a life that reveals the divine nature that is in them. An apple tree produces apples. A peach tree produces peaches. Why? Each tree produces its fruit due to its nature. If you have the nature of God in you, you will be serving God in your life!
A life of saving faith, and serving faith, will result in an eternity of joy in the presence of the Heavenly Father. Listen to what the Lord says at the judgment to those who know Him and serve Him by faith!
A. Invitation
Come!
B. Introduction
Blessed By My Father
C. Explanation
You Did The Right Things For The Right Reasons
How do you see your future?
You may not have control over circumstances of health, wealth, or family. But, you do have control over how you serve the Lord, and where you will spend yor future!