You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.
James 4:13-15
Have you seen the movie ‘Back To The Future’? Have you ever wished you could go back to the future? What events would you change? They are all very good questions, unfortunately unrealistic, never going to happen.
We cannot live with regrets of the past. Medical studies have proved that worry attacks the central nervous system, the circulatory system, and the digestive system of our bodies. Charles Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic, said, “You can worry yourself to death, but you cannot worry yourself to a longer life.”
That said neither can we live in the expectations of the future. As our heading says this morning we don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. We can only anticipate what we would hope it will be, but there is no guarantee. It is the reason why, more than ever, we need to live in the present and be filled with guidance.
One of the greatest books ever written, (actually it was a letter around AD 48), contains guidance in detail for the followers of Jesus. The content deals with real issues, not only facing those living in AD 48, but also for you and me. It starts from the outset to let you know if you lack wisdom of any kind, there is a God who longs to give you the wisdom, you just have to ask. The only condition is you have to believe that if you ask you will receive.
We don’t know what we will face in the future but we can know we do not have to face the future alone. God is a vital part of our tomorrow. Are you fearful about your future? Give your future to God. Live one day at a time, completely surrendered to His will.
Remember we spoke earlier this week on “He shall direct thy paths.” The personal pronoun “He” is packed with all the tender love of our Father.
Veron Ghee says this on the subject of guidance:
No evil can baffle if He directs the path. No enemy can prevent the final realisation of His purpose. No obstacles can hinder if He leads. No opposition can overcome if He guides. No crises can overwhelm the wisdom of God, no events surprise Him. Oh, the safety of being in the will of God. “He shall direct thy paths.”
As we come to a close, James says we have an option. That option is to believe or not. Just like each day I put my sat nav on to take me to my destination (guidance) I have the option to mute the person speaking, to ignore it’s direction, to believe I know a shorter or quicker way. If I choose to do this is it sends my sat nav into a spin with those immortal words, “please do a U-turn” and will not rest until either I do or I switch it off or eventually go further down the road when it will then recalculate itself.
Is that how your life is? God is speaking do a U-turn or you simply need guidance. The good news is if you surrender then obey God’s sat nav for your life and don’t think you know it all, but rest on the true wisdom as we heard the other day then your railroad journey will be kept on track.
You will often find obstructions, Look for storms and wind and rain; On a fill, or curve, or trestle They will almost ditch your train; put your trust alone in Jesus.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 The Message