Faithfully Facing the Future Fearlessly

The month of April is one that we will not forget. It has brought disease and death, defeat and deceits, as well as disappointment and discouragement. A lot of folks are also disillusioned with just about everything and everybody.

But now the announcements are already being made about the gradual reopening of the country. That has its risks, its downside; but so does the continued shutdown.

We cannot play the proverbial ostrich and bury our heads in the sand. Yesterday ended at midnight, today won’t last forever and tomorrow is on the near horizon. You cannot relive yesterday, but you can grab today by the horns. What you do or don’t do today may have a measurable impact on how good or how bad tomorrow will be.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who does know. So I want to rise to the occasion and I want you to do the same. Join with me!

1. Let’s believe God! You have a Bible. It is God’s Word. Don’t get bent out of shape with what CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS are saying. In fact, don’t watch them or listen to them. Listen to God and believe what He says.

2. Keep on keeping on! Be the Christian the Lord would have you be. In good times or in bad times, don’t cave in to the pressures.

3. Be faithful! Faithfulness requires faith in God, faith in Christ, faith in the Word of God. Whether in the cold of winter or the heat of summer, faithfulness is forever the same. You can pray. You can read the Word. You can minister to your family. You can tithe. You can watch services online. And some of you can get back to church.

4. Be fruitful! Although social distancing restricts us considerably, we can still maintain a soul winner’s heart and seize the opportunities we do get.

5. Keep standing true! Stressful times will test the mettle of your soul. The Bible says, “…and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13). A year ago nobody saw the pandemic coming. It came like a whirlwind and we all have felt its pressure. That same verse in Ephesians also talks about withstanding. In good times and in bad times you and I are well advised not to be over come by the circumstances.

6. Trouble should not get lodging in your heart.Trouble of the magnitude of the current health and economic crisis can do great damage. Often the aftermath of such events will be long-term wounded spirits and bitterness.

Dear friend, we must not allow hurt and heartache to sign a lease and take up permanent residence in our hearts and spirits. When Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1), He was giving us great and wise counsel.

7. Keep a happy, rejoicing spirit. I’m not suggesting that you fake a happy countenance. What I want you to do is allow the Spirit of God to produce His fruit in you (Gal. 5). That will include joy. If you have the joy of the Lord in you, it will not be difficult to rejoice.

The sun may not be shining brightly today, but you and I can sing the songs of the Lord and rejoice. We are saved, forgiven, born again, justified, propitiated; therefore, we are children of God and Heavenbound. If we keep that on the front burner, we should be able to maintain a happy, rejoicing spirit.

So let’s give the Lord our best and faithfully face our future fearlessly. Amen!