“Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.“
Psalm 94:9-11
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JULY 26, 2024
This week we have beheld our omniscient God, who knows, hears, sees, and teaches all things. Let us end the week reflecting on what it means that God knows the future.
What do you wonder about the future? Here are some questions that my family, friends, and I have:
How long will I live?
Will there be another pandemic?
Will AI take over the world?
How and when will the world end?
Will we wear shoes in heaven?
This week’s passage contains a truth the Bible makes clear in many other places: human plans are futile, yet God’s plans stand firm forever. His purposes always prevail.
The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Psalm 33:10-11
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, 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. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:13-15
While we do not know what tomorrow holds, God knows everything about the future and the end of the world as we know it. He has chosen in His wisdom to keep most of the future concealed from us. He shares the information we need, and we are to trust Him until the end. As God continues to hear and see, teach and discipline, and ultimately punish those who reject Him, we are called to trust and obey by living holy and godly lives and looking forward to the day of the Lord.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
We do not hear and see everything, but we are heard and seen by the One who does. We do not know everything, but we are taught and disciplined by the One who does. We do not know the future, but we can trust the only One who does. Our God knows us completely and loves us unreservedly. He knows what you have been through, what you are facing today, and what you will encounter tomorrow. He knows what you need before you even ask Him. For those who trust Him, God graciously provides help for today and bright hope for a future in a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Behold our God!
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
- What scares you about the future?
- Have you trusted God with your future by asking Jesus for forgiveness and salvation?
If you decide to trust God with your future by asking Jesus as your Savior, please let someone know about your decision: a friend or someone at Wheaton Bible Church. Or check out this additional resource: https://peacewithgod.net/.
Church Reading Plan:
- Today, July 26: Jeremiah 22; Mark 8
- Saturday, July 23: Jeremiah 23; Mark 9
- Sunday, July 24: Jeremiah 24; Mark 10