Certainty in an Uncertain Future

Certainty in an Uncertain Future

-Introduction

-Few things in life are certain. (“You pay taxes and then you die.”)

-As we sang earlier: “I don’t know about tomorrow...”

-Now we could dwell upon that thought and let it deeply trouble us, couldn’t we?

-We like to know, don’t we?

-Within the scriptures, there are a number of occasions with which we would like

to have a Paul Harvey – “The Rest of the Story” – segment.

-i.e. – Enoch, Paul beyond Acts 28, early years of Jesus, John 21:25

-Yet, God hasn’t revealed all that we want to know. However, He has revealed all that we

need to know. (2 Tim 3:17, 2 Pet 1:3)

-Do We Want To Know What the Future Holds?

-With that in mind, consider this: We don’t need to know what tomorrow holds.

-To be honest with you, the more I think about that idea, the more satisfied I become

with not knowing.

-If I knew about some very good things that were eventually going to happen, it

would become rather easy to look past some of the enjoyments that life now holds.

-If I knew, beforehand, of some difficulties that awaited my future, I’m afraid that I

would live today in dread.

-Example of Ham - Gen 9:20-29

-“To fully understand the nature of the curse in this passage, it must be noted that the

blessing or cursing of children by the patriarchs was evidently a prophetic

event...Noah’s words on this occasion did not directly apply to Shem, Ham, or

Japheth. Rather they were the patriarchal prediction of what would become of their

descendants” (South, 452).

-Notice, as a result of the wrongdoing of Ham, a curse is pronounced upon Canaan.

-Were Canaan and his descendants to be punished for Ham’s wrongdoing? No.

-In reality, Ham was also be cursed. How? He was being provided with information

regarding future events. He was being told aforetime that things would not go well

for the descendants of his son, Canaan. Eventually, they would rebelliously depart

from God and sink in the depths of idolatry and be overthrown.

-Do you think it was pleasant for Ham to have had that information?

-Certainty Amidst Uncertainty

-Jas 4:13-17 - Our life holds much uncertainty. Don’t count on tomorrow. It is not

guaranteed.

-However, if I stopped this lesson with such focus on uncertainty, it could be

somewhat unsettling, couldn’t it?

-That’s not my intention. So, we’ll continue.

-Once again, consider the song we sang earlier: “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”

-I am uncertain about tomorrow. However, I am certain about who holds tomorrow.

-Therefore, I can be certain amidst uncertainty.

-Revelation 4 & 5

-Following the critiques of the seven churches of Asia, notice what is said in Rev 4:1.

-The rest of the chapter then describes the scene that appeared before John.

-Rev 5:1-4

-This book “...contained symbolic visions of what was to come to pass...To open the

book meant to break the seals and to look thereon meant to see and describe the

symbols that were written in it. When no one came forward to open the book,

John was so affected that he wept much. Apparently, the promise made in 4:1 that

he was to be shown things ‘which must come to pass hereafter’ would fail. Being in

exile and deeply concerned about the future of the churches, he was moved to tears

because no one was ready to make the coveted disclosures” (Hinds, 75-76).

-Rev 5:5-10

-Jesus, the One Worthy, took the book.

-took - in the Greek perfect tense = complete action, the results of which still stand

-example of “It is written”

-This is telling us that Jesus took the book and kept it.

-In these regards we can say, “I know who holds tomorrow.”

-Summary and Invitation

-In Christ, we find certainty amidst a world and life of uncertainty.

-We can and must put our trust in Jesus. He is worthy of it. He is Lord and Christ. He is

our Savior. He is our Mediator. He is our High Priest. He is our Advocate. He is our

Hope.

-1 John 2:1-3, Heb 2:9-10, 16-18

-Have you placed your trust and obedience in Christ?

-Since tomorrow is uncertain, today is very significant.

-2 Cor 6:2 - “...now is the day of salvation”

-Invitation

Joplin – March 27, 2011 – p.m.

References:

Company, Nashville, TN