The Future: One Day at a Time
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. -Leviticus 25:2
There’s an interesting word in the scripture reference above. The word of interest, at least to me, is: WHEN. God does not say, if you come into the promised land, but, when you come into the promised land, then you shall do the following…
God gave detailed and useful instructions regarding the future
And after telling them that they would surely come into His promised land, He gave a series of commandments concerning this future land, such as letting the fields and crops rest every seven years. But it’s interesting to note that at the time when God had said this, His people were dwelling in tents in the middle of a desert, being fed with manna from heaven every single day.
God could have certainly waited until they were come up across the river Jordan and into the promised land before giving His counsels and laws, but He didn’t. He gave them His words in advance. But, it doesn’t always happen like that.
Lord, will you at this time restore again your kingdom?
This was the burning question on the minds of all of Jesus’ followers, to which He responded:
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. -Acts 1:7
At this saying, it appeared as though He had shut the door coldly upon them. Yet, He gave a different answer. He didn’t tell them these deep mysteries that they were seeking into, but He gave them practical advice for today, and for the short-term future. He said:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. -Acts 1:8
While we are upon this earth, we won’t know our entire path
Sometimes, it seems as though God is testing and trying our faith, and He doesn’t let us see even to the next day. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
But, it is so contrary to human nature to walk by faith, rather than by our own foresight. It is so contrary to our impulses to sit and wait patiently for the Lord’s calling. It’s against our instincts to walk down a path simply because we know it to be God’s will, even if we don’t see where it’s leading, or what lies at its summit. Doing so requires both faith and patience.
Observe the quiet patience of Job:
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. -Job 23:8-12
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