The Christ in Prophecy Journal

FHCO: Your Future in the Bible (Part 10)

Future Hope Conference Online

Your Future in the:
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Steve Howell

Steve Howell
Adult Education Minister
Tonganoxie Christian Church

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The final test of future truth is Test #9:
“Does it provide hope?”

Hope

It’s been said that all natural desires exist because there is a natural fulfillment for that desire. I desire food because somewhere sustenance exists in this universe. I desire water because somewhere in this universe it exists for me to drink. I desire intimacy because companionship can be found in the universe. The desire proves the existence of the source. In other words, I believe some things because I want them, so they must exist.

What happens when I apply this to the Bible? It tells me that my hopes seem to have no obvious remedy here on earth, and that my hopes will have fulfillment someday. That’s what it says.

Hope will end because our hopes will be fulfilled. Dead people will live. My hope to see people like my departed dad will cease to be hope and it will become reality. Problems will be finished. Injustice will be eliminated. Poverty will be wiped out. Healthcare will be unnecessary. The environment will be perfected. Crime and suffering will be gone. Our bodies will be glorified. All these problems will be taken care of. The hope is fulfilled.

Relationships will be perfected as well. My desire to see God finally — that God shaped hole in us that people talk about — that is going to be fulfilled. He is going to become tangible.The Bible seems trustworthy because it shares hope that I cannot find anywhere else. More specifically, it explains why my hope exists in the first place. God designed me that way. It’s there.

Does it provide hope?

In the matter of future truth, the Bible passes these everyday tests. In all these tests, we see that it has expertise, accuracy, and hope. In addition to knowing that the Bible is true for the past, and it is true for the present. And, I can say, “Do you know what? It seems pretty true for the future, too.” I must agree that the Bible is faithful and true.

Our Hope for the Future

Everyday we make life-altering decisions about truth. You step in your car and you believe your brakes will work, without testing them. It’s true that what the signs out there on the interstate say exit me off at my destination. Since it’s true, I make a decision to believe that the sign’s not going to just steer me off a cliff. I decided that it was true that when I turn on the radio it is not going to electrocute me. I believe these things. I use common sense about everyday truth.

As you know, if I use common sense, everyday tests of truth with the Bible, it is pretty clear that this book right here is the truth. It has been shown to be reliable and trustworthy in the past, it has been shown to reliable and trustworthy in the present, it has been shown to be reliable and trustworthy in the future. It’s true! And, since it’s true, I would be an idiot not to listen to what it has to say. If it is true, I need to base my actions off of that.

The Bible tells me how to live right now. It tells me how to treat others right now. It shows how I should relate to God. It shows me everything about the “right here and right now” that I should do.

And, do you know what? It talks about my future. It talks about your future. If it’s true then it is true about what’s to come. It tells me what is coming. It tells me what to expect. It tells me about the return of Jesus Christ. It tells me about the accumulation of history — Jesus is coming and there is a future of hope.

If what the Bible tells concerning the future is true, and it is, then we need to listen to it and to realize our hope for the future that is in there. Since it is true, listen. Figure out how your future fits in with the truth told right in there. Just listen to the truth.

I want to close with one passage from Revelation 22 because this is the truth. Jesus said, “Look, I am going quickly, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those that wash their robes so they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter the city the gates… I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star… He who testifies about these things say, ‘Yes I am coming quickly.'”

Amen, come, Lord Jesus!

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

3 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • The article said "As you know, if I use common sense, everyday tests of truth with the Bible, it is pretty clear that this book right here is the truth."

    I'm not sure this sits right with me. Doesn't the Bible say don't put God to the test?

    I don't need tests of truth personally. I just believe with faith. That's enough for me.

  • Like Steve said, Billy, we test everything to make decisions, so I don't believe putting the Bible to apologetical tests is the same as testing God's goodness and character.

    We still decide to have faith in something based on at least the smallest modicum of evidence and testing, right.

  • Amen, Nathan.

    We actually exercise a lot of faith in almost all of our everyday activities, even just getting out of bed each day.

    The Greek NT word for 'faith' carries the connotation of being 'strongly convinced' yet, in a lot of our everyday activities, our 'evidence', unlike the veracity of His Word, is actually somewhere out in the Etherzone!

    One example I like to use is growing up watching our parents driving a car. We have no clue what's really going on, but when we approach a stop sign we see our parents move a foot from one pedal to another and, like magic, the car stops [well, at least 99% of the time… 😉 ]!

    Even as 'experienced' adults, We still have no clue what's really going on!

    We do not have the "omniscience" to see into the molecular structure of the various brake parts to 'see' if they are, in fact, fatigued and about to fail. Yet we 'instinctively' trust our past "experience" that everything will work as it should and everything will turn out just fine.

    The difference for the Christian is my faith, my trust is ultimately in God so I don't have to 'worry' or 'doubt' about what happens on the other side of each stop sign!

    If I survive, I live unto Him. And if I don't, I am then with Him, which is far better!
    😉

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