Sermon Central
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Don't Fear The Future
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 19, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: We do not need to fear the future because it is in His hands. By faith we can say, surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
Psalm 23:6 Don’t Fear the Future CS19Oct08 2405
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
We want to reflect on David’s last words in this Psalm.
• It’s not easy saying these words. He is confident that he will have grace and love.
• He has faith that the God whom he trusts will continue to guide him into the future.
• This is a word of faith. That God will be faithful and unchanging.
• And that this good God will bless him with ‘goodness and love’.
(1) SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME
For just for some days, but for his entire life journey
• In order words, every day!
• Just like Lam 3:22-23 says "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Can we say the same today? With so many uncertainties today, can we say the same?
• Man fears the future, because they have no security. Events will change, people change, the world changes. We see a lot of that in the last few weeks.
• No sure security. Even banks can collapse. Even insurance cannot ‘insure’ you.
• When we look at our future, we aren’t often full of faith and hope.
But as Christians, we can face the future with faith.
• Not because circumstances will not change, but because God will not change.
• That is the reason why David was able to say "surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life".
• On what basis can he conclude this way? On the basis of his knowledge of his God, the good Shepherd.
God is our security. God is our only security.
BECAUSE HE STANDS I WILL NEVER PERISH
F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveller, guide, traveller, and guide.
They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice.
But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the cracks of the rock. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing.
F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ – the solid ROCK. And because He stands, I will never perish.” …Our Daily Bread
If you do not know Him today, we live with fear and worry because we do not know what the future holds.
• If you know Him, we can share David’s confidence, and face the future with faith, because He holds the future.
• If God is Almighty and cares for us, we need not have to fear.
• In His ministry, Jesus often repeated this phrase – ‘Do not be afraid.’
• Trust God. No matter where you are in life - lying down in green pastures, beside quiet waters, walking through the valley of the shadow of death, in the presence of my enemies - God is with you, to guide you each step of the way.
Psalm 145:20 "The Lord watches over all who love him..."
• Like a father caring for his children, like a shepherd caring for his sheep.
• We do not know what the future holds, but we do know WHO holds the future. Frankly, what the future holds may not be that important, but WHO holds that future is critical.
• We know that whatever happens, God’s will is fulfilled. And His will is good.
David is not saying that there will not be any difficulties or disappointments in life.
• He himself encountered many difficulties – at one time, he was running for his life, he experience the agony of losing his son, he committed adultery and sinned against God. He was at wars often with neighbouring enemies.
• It wasn’t all a smooth life for him. He was not saying that only good things will happen to a Christian.
He says that God will care for our needs – we can still see God’s goodness and mercy.
• His goodwill will be fulfilled.
• We have to believe God in this way - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
