2015. 2016. What huge years. Quick years. Four years of university seem to have just flown by. As I look back on this year, there are numerous lessons and takeaways. God has taught me so much through His word, through experiences of Him in prayer, and through the people around me. Praise Him for all that He has done. One theme that's been constantly on my heart and progressively growing is how we're called to live in the present, but very much for the future.
Throughout the years, I noticed a reoccurring pattern in my life. I found myself constantly looking forward to the “next best thing”, seeking to find excitement or purpose in the things to come in life and I would do everything I could to be ready for it. When I was in high school, I looked forward to my grade 12 year, when I got there, I looked forward to university. In first year, I couldn’t wait till second year; when I got there I couldn’t wait till third year exchange to Europe, then I looked forward to fourth year. When fourth year had barely gone by, I looked forward to starting life as an adult. However, each time I got to the next big thing, it seemed that none of the satisfaction lived up to the hype, nor lasted more than a little while. It seemed that I often forget that Jesus has guaranteed His people a glorious future.
And here's a picture of what we can look forward to,
“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelations 7:15-17)
In that time, we will fully be in the presence of God, where these is fullness of joy, and pleasures that last forever (Psalms 16:11) And that's the hope Paul writes about in this year's KCCF theme passage from Romans 8:24-25, "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
We are to wait for it with patience. When my mind is set on eternity, I'm often less rattled by the things in front of me that often don’t seem to go my way. When my mind is set on eternity, I worry less about my future on this Earth. When my mind is set on eternity, I find myself desiring less the things our world tells us we need. Because of Christ, we can fully look forward to this hope of full salvation, which is certain, and know that not only will it live up to the hype, but it will blow us away.
A REASON TO LIVE
It is precisely because we have this inheritance that is to come, we can live freely for His kingdom. Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey Him (Matthew 28:19-20). As students we often find ourselves putting in hard work for our future. We seek grades to get us into professional school or set us up for jobs, we seek fame to drive our self-worth. But if that’s what we’re living for, if those are the things we set our eyes on, then we’re missing out, big time. What if we being to put more work in today for the future of eternal purpose? What if instead of over-studying, we spend that time in prayer? What if instead of mindlessly scrolling on Facebook, we gather in worship? What if instead of sitting around, we share with the lost this eternal future that can also be theirs?
Let’s not live for what is perishing, and what moths will destroy, but have an eternal mindset. My prayer is that we would all live in the present but for the future; putting best use of the time, money, resources, and circumstances that God has given us to make disciples so that His name would be lifted high and “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, before the throne and before the Lamb…crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’…and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might to be our God forever and ever! Amen.’” (Rev. 7:9-12)
- Michael
