We Walk By Faith - May 16

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-9

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.

Reflect

Have you ever wanted to know the future? Why or why not?

Have you ever prayed a prayer like this: “God, I know you have my whole future mapped out for me. I just wish you’d let me see the map.” In the face of big life decisions and important moments it’s natural to want to flip a few pages ahead for reassurance rather than have to trust Him word by word, line by line, page by page.

Since ancient days, people have consulted fortune tellers, crystal balls, tarot cards, horoscopes, etc. to try to catch a glimpse into an unknown future. And since the beginning of time, evil has taken advantage of our desire to know the unknown. Satan has deceived many people and swindlers have profited off of vulnerable people.

Clearly though, God did not intend for us to be omniscient or He would have made us that way. He also explicitly forbade consulting mediums, practicing spiritism, and engaging in the occult (Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6) .

But that doesn’t mean that God has kept all future events secret. In the Old Testament, God spoke through His true prophets and their predictions came to pass (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). These days, God has given us the Bible and in it, He has told us all that we need to know. Maybe not everything we want to know, but everything we need to know.

The most important thing that He has revealed to us is our future hope in Christ. No one who has put their faith in Christ has any reason to fret about life after death. Dr. Warren Wiersbe explained, “The people of God can be found in one of two places: either in heaven or on earth (Ephesians 3:15). None of them is in the grave, in hell, or any ‘intermediate place’ between earth and heaven. Believers on earth are ‘at home in the body’ while believers who have died are “absent from the body.” Believers on earth are “absent from the Lord,” while believers in heaven are “present with the Lord.”

Paul’s point is that because we can be confident of our future after death, we can be of good courage in this life. The worst thing that can happen to us in this life is death and if that leads to going home to be with the Lord then we have no reason to fear it. The road forward may be full of unknown obstacles or roadblocks but we know our eternal destination is set and nothing can keep us from getting to Him.

How then should we live in the meantime? Well, Paul said that we make it our aim to please Him and we walk by faith, not by sight. That means that every decision we make, every step we take, every page we turn, we move forward in obedience to Christ. We keep our eyes set on eternity and keep on doing the next right thing until we find ourselves at home with the Lord.

Yes, the unknowns of this world can be scary. We don’t know everything life holds for us. But we know what He has for us in the end. As Corrie ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” So, be of good courage and walk forward in confident faith, one step at time.

Respond

Lord, thank You for Your Word that serves as a light to my feet and light to my path (Psalm 119:105). When I am feeling uncertain and afraid of the unknown in this life, remind me that my future is always secure in You. Help me to walk forward in faith. It is my aim to please You no matter where I am. Amen.

Reveal

How can you focus today on the blessings God has given? Rather than wishing for something more tomorrow, live in faith today and trust God's plan for the future.