Our Hope: Past, Present, and Future

I have been spending a lot of time the past few days thinking of many things about my own life.  Sounds strange, even to me, but I have become quite proficient in pondering.  Just as Mary pondered her situation as a young virgin who was about to give birth to the King of Kings (Luke 2:19), I have been focusing on my heart issues, the things that matter into eternity, and the things that matter, but shouldn’t, and are temporal only.

I want to make a difference for Christ.  He has been the mainstay of my life.  I know this, even though I have not always treated Him as such.  Yet He has always been faithful, even when I have not been.  If you will stop, and look at your own journey, you will probably admit that truth as well.  It is a human failing that we all have, but because He extends His grace to us it is not lethal to our souls.

So as I look at the past, I have regrets, and much unfinished business, and relationships that need tending to.  As I look at today, I see where I am, where I have been, and where I would very much like to go.  The present is special in that way.  We have hold of what has been, and we can modify our behaviors, and fortify the good things about ourselves, so that today will be more productive and enriched.  The late Dale Carnegie put it quite succinctly about how mankind goes through life:

‘One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living.  We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon — instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our window today.’

So today, we should be counting our blessings, realizing what we have learned from the past, and looking to the future, which can be shaped, in part, by all we have already been, and who we can become.

The future may be predetermined by our Heavenly Father, yet He Himself granted us free will. Therefore, much of our future will be defined by our own choices.  Here is a poetic quote that I think represents how we should view the decisions and actions we will embrace in the coming days:

‘The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow.  Be careful how you tread, for every step will show.’ — Anonymous

How we live our past, present, and future will contribute to the next generation.  We say we want to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren.  That legacy should be worth more than money.  It should reflect the good things of life, of mankind, and of the God who gave that life to us. He must be the Cornerstone that we build upon, to live the lives worthy of His blessing.  He is Our Hope, our past, our present, and our future.  He must be trusted to move us from what has been, what is, and what will be, in the good times, in the hard times, and in all the times in between.  He is our future. Praise Him for the roses right outside of your window!

‘But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’ Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

Blessings!