NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Looking Toward the Future 

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
January 1, 2007

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

The past only deserves a glance for it is the future that deserves our attention. Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13). We stand on the threshold of another year, 2007. Looking toward the future, I am reminded of the prayerful words of Moses, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Moses was aware that he had been given an allotted amount of time on this earth. Every day is a gift from God. Like a woman dipping into a meal barrel to acquire provisions for the day, we each dip into the barrel of life aware that the next portion may be our last. Knowledgeable of this divine truth, I respectfully look toward the future.

James said of life, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” James 4:14). Aware of the brevity of life, how are we to approach our remaining days on this earth? The writer of Hebrews said, “Now the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). For the child of God, every day is to be a journey of faith! There is something interesting about Hebrews 10:38 that I want to draw to your attention. The verse opens with the word “now.” While writing in Jonah, I discovered that the word “now” is a connecting or linking word. It takes the subject of that verse and links it to what has gone before as well as to what would follow. This being true, the writer of Hebrews gives us two distinguishing marks of the believer that is walking by faith. 

The previous verses tell us of the believer’s anticipation of the Second Coming, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry ” (Hebrews 10:37). Unlike the scoffers that deny our Lord’s return, those that live by faith actively look for His return. This anticipation has an affect on the believer’s focus. The believer finds himself looking away from the temporal things of earth and “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2). It is so easy to become sidetracked in the Christian life. It all begins with something as simple as a look. That look becomes a lingering and the lingering becomes a longing. May we be reminded of what Jesus said to Mary and Joseph, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49). Later, Jesus would say to His disciples, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Like our Lord, we are here to do our Father’s business. The anticipation of His return has an effect with respect to filth. John said, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (I John 3:2-3). The believer should not only be concerned about their actions, but their appearance as well. As ambassadors for Christ, it is imperative that we keep ourselves unspotted from the world. We must never forget that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Sin hides the light and destroys the effectiveness of the salt. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13). Living by faith encourages the believer to look for the Lord’s return and looking for His return encourages the walk of faith.

The following verse tells us of the believer’s assurance of a settled confidence, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39). If there is one thing that comes through in this verse, it is confidence. There is no shadow of doubt as to the settled state of this individual! The first thing that I notice is the separation of confidence, “we are not of them.” The writer wants it clearly understood that there is a distinct difference in the two groups mentioned! They are marked by their direction. They are going back while he is moving forward. Paul said it this way, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). There is a difference in demeanor, “draw back.” Draw back means, shrinkage by implying timidity, apostasy. There is nothing timid about the writer. Rather there is boldness in the words upon his lips and the life in which he lives! If there is one thing that the writer of Hebrews wants to make clear, it is the fact that there is a distinct difference between the lost and the saved! There is the strength of confidence, “we are not of them . . . but of them that believe.” The strength of the believer’s confidence does not lie within the believer himself. The word “believe” in verse 39 is the same word as “faith” in verse 38. Please get this statement; “His faith is not in his ability to keep the promise, but in the promise’s ability to keep him!” “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). It was acceptance of the promise that justified me and it is promise that will keep me!

Sandwiched in-between the second coming (verse 37) and the secure confidence (verse 39) is a steadfast continuance “Now the just shall live by faith” (verse 38). For every believer, life is a journey of faith! It is a faith that is rooted in the past. This faith that the just are to live by did not just magically appear in the present. Rather, the faith that is appropriated in the daily life is the same faith that justifies them in the past. Before the just can live by faith, they must be made just. The word “just” means equitable in character or action by implying to be innocent, holy or just. This was accomplished by faith. “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26) It is a faith that rests upon the promises, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This faith is seen in a resolve on the present, “the just shall live by faith.”

How much time do I have? How much time do you have? What does tomorrow hold for me? What will you face when the sun comes up in the morning? I do not have the answers to these questions. All I know as I look toward the future is, “Now the just shall live by faith.” This is a steadfast continuance that is linked to the second coming and tied to a settled confidence.

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION