Transcript: “The Future Belongs To The Believer”

“The Future Belongs To The Believer”
(Sermon by Rex Herndon 1/5/25)

Hebrews 10:35-36

Introduction:

Once again, we stand at the portal of a New Year gazing into the future with hopeful anticipation and perhaps a measure of uncertainty.

While we may only speculate as to what lies ahead, there is one thing of which we may be sure. That which is unknown to you and me, is clearly known to God. It is, therefore, imperative we listen closely to His voice, be attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in faith, hold firmly to His unchanging Hand.

Poet, Minnie Louise Haskins, speaking to the “Man who Stood at the Gate of the Year,” said, “Go out into the darkness, put your hand in the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

Hymn writer, Ira Stanphill, who was no stranger to trusting God, was inspired to write, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.” (I Know Who Holds Tomorrow: Singspiration Music:copyright)

Moving forward in time, we know there may be challenges to test our patience and try our faith, along with the possibility of new and rewarding opportunities. No matter the situation confronting us, we are encouraged in Scripture to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Such assurance, coming from God, Who has promised to “Never leave or forsake” us, is an incomparable source of strength and stability needed on our journey in the critical days ahead.

There can be little doubt, but that the world today is caught in the throes of social, economic and political upheaval. The unrest we see about us at nearly every level of life, could well be likened to the “perilous times” spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 1Timothy 5:7.

Times, unlike any witnessed by many of us, the philosopher, Thomas Paine, writing during the American Revolution, may have prophetically described this time, when he wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” That is especially true for those who are spiritually sensitive and able to distinguish the difference between the “Holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”
(Leviticus 10:10)

That being the atmosphere in which we presently live, it is reassuring to know, we, who have placed our trust in God, will continue to be overshadowed by His Omnipresence, guided by His infinite Omniscience, and sheltered in the security of His unlimited Omnipotence. As David so beautifully said in (Psalm 91:1), “He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Standing on the immutable promise of God to be deeply engaged in the details of our life, it is important we not be distracted by the swirling storms of conflict or the abject sin surrounding us, and give heed to the counsel of the writer in Hebrews, who admonished, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” (Hebrews 10:35-36) I take that to mean, “Don’t lose sight of Him who holds your future in His Hand!”

The ‘confidence’ of which the writer spoke is an unwavering faith in God, with Whom, Jesus said, “All things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:26)

It is holding the Hand of God with tenacity and knowing there is no night too dark; no mountain too high; no valley too deep or enemy too strong, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
He has promised, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight, I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

The promised, “Recompense of reward,” is the blessing that comes as a result of our unfaltering faith and trust in God. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”(Isaiah 40:31) That’s why I firmly believe, “The Future Belongs To The Believer!

Holding fast to our confidence, we will experience the benefits of God’s unmerited favor, while gaining new heights spiritually and a deeper understanding of His Will for our life. David said, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy Presence is fullness of joy; at thy Right Hand there are pleasures evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

God reminded the prophet Jeremiah, “Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)

The New Year is a reminder how time marches on. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is on the horizon.

The English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote, “Time and tide wait for no man.” Time is that elusive force, the passing of which, man is powerless to impede. It began at Creation and will end when God declares, “There shall be time no longer.” (Revelation 10:6)

If the Lord tarries and grants us life, we have eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty hours at our disposal in the new year. The critical decision is ours as to how will we spend those days, weeks and months. Will we cower in fear and despair, or will we, Be strong in the power of His Might?”

(1) The New Year affords us the opportunity to pause in the midst of our busy lifestyle for a time of reflection and resolution.

In reflection, we think about the bountiful benefits and blessings of God’s Presence, provision and protection that has been ours over the past year. A time in which we may say with David, “Gracious is the Lord; and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” (Psalm 116:5)

The New Year is also a time for resolution when we, with renewed faith, resolve to be more submissive to the Will of God and more dependent on the direction and power of the Holy Spirit in our life to overcome the opposition or obstacles that would prevent us from exercising our faith and keep us from becoming, “More than conquerers through Him Who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

In view of Who God is,and what He desires to do, in and through us, it can be said without fear of successful contradiction, “The Future Belongs To The Believer!”

As time moves on uninhibited by man, it is important we understand, it cannot out distance the prevenient Presence and Power of God.

Should we be permitted to peer behind the veil that separates the present from the future, we would discover, God is clearly evident behind that veil of the unknown.

It is not speculation or hyperbole to assert, God has full knowledge and sovereign control of that which is to come. Therefore, we need not wonder about the future, because our God is ‘prevenient,’ He is already there, reigning in Might and Majesty!

With that understanding, the question then becomes, why should we fear or feel insecure about tomorrow? All we need do is adhere to the wisdom of the writer of Proverbs who admonished. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It is reassuring to know, God is present in the year ahead. He has prepared the way and has made available those needed resources that assure us of His blessing in every phase of our life.

His Presence in the future gives us the unmitigated confidence to, “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

(2) In Isaiah chapter forty-five, God, promises Israel, who has languished in Babylonian captivity for seventy years, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight.”….”I Will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know, that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:2-3)

God’s promise to Israel as they looked to the future, is a promise we may embrace as we enter into a New Year. We can be sure, it is His desire to give us, “The treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places.”

Speaking through the Prophet
Jeremiah, God reveals the extent to which He is engaged in our future. He said, “I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not evil to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

The NIV translation of Scripture broadens our view of His Promise. It reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

That we could be found in the mind of God, Who spoke the universe into existence, decreed the course the stars would take and created man “A living soul,” is an incredulous thought, beyond the depth and breadth of our understanding.

The Bible says, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry,”(Psalm 34:15) In the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, we are given this wonderful promise, “Behold, the Lord’s Hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

It is with a broken heart, I still hear the voice of our daughter, Roxanne, who is with the Lord, sweetly singing one of her favorite gospel songs:

“Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, And long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion;
A constant friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.” (Civilla Martin: pub. dom)

I encourage you to pause a moment, and think the unimaginable. At this very moment, you and I are on the mind of God. We are the object of His thoughts and the subject of His plans.

When the reality of that truth penetrates our thinking, there will come an immeasurable surge of confidence and stability that will enable us to withstand any force of doubt or fear that may come against us.

Like you, I have heard the voice of the unbelieving world asserting, man is alone in the universe. It is as though God created him and then abandoned him, leaving him to survive on his devices.

To embrace such thinking, one must reject the entire Word of God and accept the unfounded thinking and theories of those who see man as nothing more than a creature of fate, void of any Divine intervention in his life.

It is evident, many today adhere to the thinking propagated by
Charles Darwin, in his theory
of “The Origin of Species,” an idea based on speculation that dismissed any notion of man being created by God. In his argument with the Genesis record of Creation, Darwin, espoused the theories of evolution and the idea of ‘survival of the fittest.’

In the mind of the evolutionist, the idea man was created from dust in the image of God, is nothing more than the figment of his imagination. They contend we evolved from a lower species and must face survival alone.

Nothing could be more void of hope and devastatingly depressing than the unfounded musings of man, who see you and I as orphans in the universe.

Let there be no mistake. We are created in the Moral Image of God! We have been given gifts not found in any other of His Creation.

He has designed our path in life. We are the sheep of His pasture and the recipients of His favor. We are assured of His Presence, Provision and Protection throughout our life, and we are given the hope of life eternal around the Throne of God!

That is why I contend, “The Future Belongs To The Believer!” So “Go out into the darkness put your hand in the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”