November 6, 2024

I’ve often reflected on why I like to know what the weather forecast is, what the economic predictions are, what the statistical odds are for football games, and of course, what are pollsters saying will happen in an upcoming election. Is my interest driven so that I can be prepared; you know like taking an umbrella because there is a good chance of rain, or is it deeper than that? Do I want to know what is going to happen so I can feel as if I am somehow in control of the future, or appear to be really smart? Is the desire to know what is going to happen part of my heart’s bent on trying to be my own god or an attempt of diminishing my sense of needing God? After all, if I know what is going to happen and am prepared for it, then do I really need God?

Over and over, the world is full of accounts of man’s failure to know the future. This was illustrated in our recent election, again. One of the most egregious examples was a poll released over this past weekend in Iowa stating that Harris had a 3-point lead over Trump, only for Trump to win the state by about 15 points. Wow, talk about a swing and a miss!

When you study the idolatry practices of the world (including the OT era), you see the attempt on the part of people to manipulate and control the future. Of course, man cannot and neither can any man-made god. That is why God, through his servants the prophets would go on record and say what is going to happen, so that people would have irrefutable evidence that the LORD is the one and only true and living God. The theme of our Christmas Night of Worship, reflects this very idea; Promises Made, Promises Kept. We serve a God who makes promises and puts them into writing for us so that we can know them in detail. Our God has shown over and over how he keeps his promises so that all of the promises that remain to be fulfilled will never be questioned by us.

In this world, there are so many promises and predictions that call for our trust. How do you know what to believe? I cannot answer that, but I can tell you this: You will never go wrong believing God’s Word and you will never go right by doubting it.

God makes promises of the future based on the fact that he has already ordained it, written it, and is carrying it out. Rest in his good plan, beloved.

Grace and Peace,

Bob

Sunday’s text: Luke 9:46-48