Facing the Future
By Hal Lindsey
2021 is not a year for wringing hands. It is a year for joyful expectation. Bad things are happening in the world, but so are good things. For everyone in Christ, a great day will shortly dawn. Knowledge of the soon coming of Christ does not relieve us of responsibility to fix what we can in the world now. Instead of making us complacent, it urges us forward to “work while it is day.”
We live in a time of global turmoil, but those who are in Christ do not enter that time unequipped or powerless. We come preaching the Gospel of Christ. According to Romans 1:16, the Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
God is all-powerful! Another word is “omnipotent.” Because the Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” the Gospel goes forth in the omnipotence of God. It goes forth from our lips, our pens, social media accounts, and the rest. And it changes people at the heart level. That’s power!
The devil tells God’s people that a low bank balance, or the politics of the day, or a physical weakness, makes them impotent. Just the opposite is true! In Luke 21:15, Jesus said to His disciples, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”
After His resurrection, in John 20:21, Jesus told His disciples, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Think about that. He passed to us His commission from the Father!
The Gospel of Matthew ends with Him saying it in another way. Chapter 28, verses 18-20 say, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Proverbs 27:12 says, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself.” We live in an end-times world with danger looming from many directions. We can easily foresee it. So where do we hide? We hide in Him. Let me be clear. We do not hide Him. He commissioned us to preach the Gospel everywhere. We do not hide Him. We hide in Him.
When we walk down the street, we do so in confidence because we are in Him. When we rest, we rest peacefully because we rest in His hands. Proverbs 3:24-26 says, “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence.”
In the first chapter of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote about some of the difficulties he had faced as he fulfilled his calling in Christ. Then, in verse 12, he said, “Nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
Notice that he placed his confidence — not in a system, or an institution — but in the person of Jesus Christ. He knew in whom he believed. And thus, he walked in confidence. So can you.
In Him, have a glorious New Year
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