Your Future

by Pr Paddick Van Zyl
(Jhb,SA)

Sermon by Pr. Paddick Van Zyl

4 Feb 2015
Title: Your Future Can Be Secure

Intro:
In a day and age where there is political and religious upheaval and chaos, where violence and death is common place, you future can be secure and stable if you are in Christ… Many place their security in money, careers, relationships and things that don’t satisfy or that disappoint.

Text:
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future’

Sermon:
We often times forget that this life on this earth in this body is extremely fleeting. It is but a vapor the Word declares (Psalm 39:11, James 4:14).

We often times forget that we have only but one chance to make a difference and fulfill our destiny.

We often spend so much time and resources on things that are of no real value on this earth and forget to invest in our future in Christ.
Billy Graham said: “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

Man has always been fascinated about knowing what the future holds. Much time and money has been spent by individuals trying to ascertain what will happen to them, if they will be rich and successful, if their relationships will be blessed etc.

Even King Saul consulted the witch (medium) at Endor 1 Samuel 28:7 to enquire what he should do in battle against the Philistines’ army.
Yet no one knows the future except God who created the future and God by His Spirit reveals to us what we should know and not more than that.

He chose to give us His spirit within our hearts to guide us and lead us into His will and plan for our lives:
John 16:13 KNJV

“However, when He, the spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
And He will tell you things to come’

Jesus also declared in John 10:27-29 that : “My sheep hear my voice, and know them, and they follow Me” when we are in Christ, when we are born again by the Spirit of God, we hear the voice of the Shepherd and we are in is fold and protection. No one will be able to snatch us away. And it holds that if we hear His voice then He will guide us and lead us into the future that God has Himself prepared for each of us….a future filled with Hope and Peace and eternal life.

The following verses tells us something about our future:

1 John 3:1-2

1 ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
That we should be called children of God! Therefor the world does
Not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
Revealed what we shall be, but we know when he is revealed,
We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

3 and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure’

What an amazing promise! We shall be like Him and see Him as He is. That is hope that is a glorious future that awaits us as children of God and who knows what we shall be called then?
Looking back at our text it is clear that God has a future for us individually but also as the body of Christ collectively. He promised us a future of hope and prosperity in Him. As children of God we can have the assurance of hope and blessing in our future because we belong to Christ.

We also have the wonderful promise from Jesus in John 14:
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.

2 ‘In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;
That where I am , there you may be also”

Jesus has gone on ahead of us to prepare a place for us. When one prepares a place for another then it is a given that you want and expect that person for whom preparations are being made to stay and also enjoy what has been prepared for them.

Jesus will come and fetch those who are His to be with Him in His glory and share in His joy in Heaven.

Illustration:
“I am safe because God holds my future in His hands”
How safe is a baby in its mother’s arms? Extremely safe. She will not drop or injure or harm that baby because she loves the baby. She carried it for nine months and has a strong bond and connection with the baby. We are just like that baby in God’s arms. He will never let us be harmed but has us safe in His loving arms…

Closing:
We find in Revelation 21:7 the following amazing promise:
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
If we are going to inherit all things then we have a very bright future and eternity ahead of us.

Beware to let the current, circumstances get you down or be overcome by worries of the present.

Corrie Ten Boom said: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God”
Let us make sure that we are in right standing with God through Christ. Live right and fulfill your calling.

Let this verse in Hebrews 12 verse 14 always be our motto and life’s credo:
“pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”
Holiness and the fear of the Lord are the two most important aspects in the Christian walk and life
Amen

Credits:
Billy Graham Quotes BrainyQuotes com
Corrie Ten Boom pinterest com yesheis com