Looking Forward
Facing difficulties is never as enjoyable as going through those times in life when everything just seems to fall into place perfectly, leaving us satisfied and grateful at the end of the day.
It seems that there are no Americans living now that would deny we are facing much more difficult times than we have been used to from a political, social, medical, or even religious perspective.
Today, during a personal lament over the declining circumstances in our nation a verse came to mind; “Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17:32). She became a pillar of salt as she looked back on Sodom as she was being led out of it as it was being judged by God.
As women, we can speculate that Lot’s wife may have been looking back to see if her daughters and sons-in-laws had decided to follow them. She may have been concerned about the family property or the friends they left behind. These are legitimate concerns but she was being rescued out of grave danger. It is as if she were lamenting leaving that sinful city behind, ungrateful for being rescued. The scriptures are clear that God knows our hearts so He was certain about her motives for looking back and punished her accordingly.
When we are willing to look forward, a study of Heaven gives us plenty of reason to be hopeful. The Lord our God has given us a source of great confidence for our eternity with Him. It is encouraging to think about that as we get discouraged in our day to day reading of the news.
Looking back and pining for what is no longer or what might have been is not a good route for us to take. Neither should looking forward to Heaven (though it does bring hope) so occupy our thoughts that we fail to be useful for the Kingdom of God here and now.
Near the end of his life King Hezekiah learned that serious judgment was coming to Israel and his thought was, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” (2Kings 20:19).
So, he seemed to have thought that this judgment was not his problem as he would not live to see the worst of it. As we, especially older Americans, look back on our younger years and think forward to Heaven as Christians, how are we looking at what is happening now, in time and history as we live and breathe?
Are we, like King Hezekiah, thinking that the current judgment is not for us to worry about, or should we look forward to what our own future generations (familial or national) will face and try to right any wrongs we are able to work on?
What things could we be doing that would prepare the next generation or preserve what we can of the godly influences in our families, churches, or towns or nation?
Will we labor now to educate others to work to change a culture that has walked away from God?
As hopeful as Heaven is, looking forward is not just about that better heavenly country that God has prepared for us (Hebrews 11:16). It is about the future of the world we are living in as long as Almighty God allows this world to remain.
The great history of this nation has led us to the situation we find ourselves in today. God is at work drawing us back to Himself and His Word. Do we see it or is all we see what used to be? We are remiss if we look back longingly at what God is harshly judging.
If, in gratitude for our own salvation and a promising and hopeful future in Heaven, we use these days to work at growing the Kingdom of God, we are seeking a blessing from which our families and the whole nation may benefit.
We may not see peace and truth in our days but perhaps we will help the next generation see them in theirs.