When was the last time you heard an optimistic news forecast about the future? I am not referring to technological or medical improvements, but rather: the future of the human race. When was the last encouraging media report you heard or read about the future of humanity on this planet?
Generally, TV and Internet media communicate grim predictions about the future of international relationships. A conflict between two nations can quickly escalate into large-scale warfare. Hot-tempered human leaders can push buttons, bombs can be dropped, and entire populations can be wiped off the face of the earth. Someone has remarked: "We feel about as safe as a gasoline truck caught in a forest fire."
What does the Word of God say about our human situation in this unpredictable world?
For one thing, individual human beings do not live for very long on this planet. According to Ps.90:10a- "The length of our days is 70 years, or 80, if we have the strength." That is NOT a long time, in relation to 'forever'. James 4:14 brings the matter of individual human life into focus: "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." If that is all the Bible taught, our brief existence would be established upon despair---and nothing else.
But, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb.13:8). Jesus is "the faithful and true witness" (Rev.3:14). The Savior Who is faithful and true is also everlasting. The same One Who has been with us in the past is still with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Because Jesus is everlasting, He lives beyond our brief tomorrows and He gives eternal life to His people (John 3:16), regardless of what happens or does not happen to His people in this world.
Individual human lives on this earth represent a drop in the bucket in light of eternity. But, Jesus Christ is forever. He has been, still is, always will be our Savior and Lord. And: Our lives have been, still are, and always will be--- with Him.
Timothy Dudley-Smith expressed that truth in these words:
O Christ the same through all our story's pages Our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears ;
Eternal Lord, the king of all the ages, Unchanging still amid the passing years;
O living Word, the source of all creation, Who spread the skies and set the stars ablaze;
O Christ the same, Who wrought our whole salvation, We bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.
O Christ the same, the friend of sinners, sharing Our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide;
Still as of old upon your body bearing The marks of love in triumph glorified.
O Son of Man Who stooped for us from heaven, O Prince of life, in all your saving power,
O Christ the same to Whom, our hearts are given; We bring our thanks for this the present hour.
O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping Our lives and loves, our days and years remain;
Our work and rest, Our waking and our sleeping, Our calm and storm, our pleasures and our pain.
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows; For all our hopes, when earth shall fade and flee
O Christ the same Beyond our brief tomorrows We bring our thanks for all that is to be.
Generally, TV and Internet media communicate grim predictions about the future of international relationships. A conflict between two nations can quickly escalate into large-scale warfare. Hot-tempered human leaders can push buttons, bombs can be dropped, and entire populations can be wiped off the face of the earth. Someone has remarked: "We feel about as safe as a gasoline truck caught in a forest fire."
What does the Word of God say about our human situation in this unpredictable world?
For one thing, individual human beings do not live for very long on this planet. According to Ps.90:10a- "The length of our days is 70 years, or 80, if we have the strength." That is NOT a long time, in relation to 'forever'. James 4:14 brings the matter of individual human life into focus: "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." If that is all the Bible taught, our brief existence would be established upon despair---and nothing else.
But, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb.13:8). Jesus is "the faithful and true witness" (Rev.3:14). The Savior Who is faithful and true is also everlasting. The same One Who has been with us in the past is still with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Because Jesus is everlasting, He lives beyond our brief tomorrows and He gives eternal life to His people (John 3:16), regardless of what happens or does not happen to His people in this world.
Individual human lives on this earth represent a drop in the bucket in light of eternity. But, Jesus Christ is forever. He has been, still is, always will be our Savior and Lord. And: Our lives have been, still are, and always will be--- with Him.
Timothy Dudley-Smith expressed that truth in these words:
O Christ the same through all our story's pages Our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears ;
Eternal Lord, the king of all the ages, Unchanging still amid the passing years;
O living Word, the source of all creation, Who spread the skies and set the stars ablaze;
O Christ the same, Who wrought our whole salvation, We bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.
O Christ the same, the friend of sinners, sharing Our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide;
Still as of old upon your body bearing The marks of love in triumph glorified.
O Son of Man Who stooped for us from heaven, O Prince of life, in all your saving power,
O Christ the same to Whom, our hearts are given; We bring our thanks for this the present hour.
O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping Our lives and loves, our days and years remain;
Our work and rest, Our waking and our sleeping, Our calm and storm, our pleasures and our pain.
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows; For all our hopes, when earth shall fade and flee
O Christ the same Beyond our brief tomorrows We bring our thanks for all that is to be.
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