“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:4-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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So, I decided to do something a little off course this morning and step aside from the book of Acts. Since today’s date (10/21/2015) is the date that Marty McFly goes to when he leaps forward in time in ‘Back to the Future 2’ I decided to do a quick word search. Searching for the word ‘future,’ lots of result scame up that were prophetic or pointed toward the end of time itself. And while the word ‘future’ didn’t pop up very often, there was a lot of ‘yet to come’ and passages that focused on the return of Christ and the events surrounding it. But what became the running theme was the understanding of the separation between those who follow Christ and those who stand apart. 

Over and over again that theme echoed through. Our concern for the future is based on where we stand. This passage from Revelation reminds us that every eye will see His return, even those who stand opposed to Him, and in that return there is the final accountability. If we are faithful, walking according to His Word, abiding in Him & His righteousness, we are assured of a future with hope and a new life! The future is bright! 

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” – ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:28-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Grace and peace have been brought to us who have been baptized into His Name, into His death, burial and resurrection. We are clothed in righteousness because He has made it possible. 

“But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,” – ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

For us who wait on Christ, there is certainty. 

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” – ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And if there is certainty in Christ, there is also certainty for those who stand apart from Him.  

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we look to the future, we find that it isn’t about what we can accomplish, but what Christ has already secured. The hope we have for the future comes from what Jesus has already done in the past, and what He has promised will occur. We can’t presume to know what tomorrow will hold, but we can be certain in Jesus. 

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” – ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As we think of the future, we should simply continue to faithfully do what was on the heart of Christ, GoLove and persuade others about the hope that we have found in the gracious heart of God. The future is not meant for worry if we are in Christ. It’s yet another reason to give God praise. The future is in His hands. Find peace in Him.