What Does The Future Hold?

by Josh Hollingsworth
(Bryant, Arkansas)

II Peter 3:13-16

INTRODUCTION: How many of us wonder about the future? To one degree or another all of us think about the future whether its seconds, minutes, hours or if it is days months or years away. We think about what tomorrow holds for us and what is going to happen today. We anticipate things weeks or months away and some of us are afraid of things that are yet years to come.

The Bible shows us as Christians how to prepare for the future. We are to be good stewards of our time. In II Peter 3:13-16 we are told to watch for Christ’s return by being faithful in the present. It also tells us to look at the past for help so that we don’t have to make the same mistakes other have already made.

THEME: WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BY:

I. ANTICIPATING CHRIST’S RETURN. vs.13

   A. We Anticipate Christ’s Return By Watching and Praying. (Mark 13:35-37)

   B. We Anticipate Christ’s Return By Not Falling Into Temptation. (Mark 14:38)

   C. We Anticipate Christ’s Return By Being Sober. (I Peter 4:7)

   D. We Anticipate Christ’s Return By Being Prepared. (I Thessalonians 5:6)

T.S. WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BY:

I. ANTICIPATING CHRIST’S RETURN. vs.13

II. BEING FAITHFUL NOW. vs.14

   A. We Are Being Faithful Now By Being Peaceful. (Hebrews 12:14)

   B. We Are Being Faithful Now By Being Without Spot Or Blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)

   C. We Are Being Faithful Now By Being Blameless. (Philippians 2:15)

T.S. WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BY:

I. ANTICIPATING CHRIST’S RETURN. vs.13

II. BEING FAITHFUL NOW. vs.14

III. LEARNING FROM THE PAST. vs.15-16

   A. We Learn From The Past From Our Mistakes. (Isaiah 1:17)

   B. We Learn From The Past From Other Believers. (Proverbs 1:5)

   C. We Learn From The Past Through The Bible. (Romans 15:4)

CONCLUSION: How should we prepare for the future? We should prepare for the future by anticipating Christ’s return. We prepare for the future by being faithful now and by learning from the past.

Are you anticipating Christ’s return or are you living for the moment? Do you want to stop living for yourself and start living for God today?

Can you look at your life right now and say that you are being faithful? If God looked at your life what would he say?

Are you learning from the past and applying it to the future? Do you have a relationship with God that is growing from your study of his word and prayer?

What Does The Future Hold? (II Peter 3:13-16)