Being enthusiastic about life seems mainly to spring from eagerly looking forward to something like a birthday, a wedding, a graduation or going on a date. If there are some things, even one pleasant thing up ahead, there is enough incentive to keep us living enthusiastically. When there is nothing, just a blank, life is humdrum to say the least.

Living in the present

While what we’ve said above is true, the greater part of our thinking is in the present. Our minds ask what can be done today, or how do I get through everything? Life brings up delays, frustrations, emergencies and unexpected demands on our time. The car won’t start when we’re in a hurry. The kids have got a virus; the shop is out of the very thing we need; the boss is talking about retrenchment. So it goes, day after day, week after week. Sometimes it seems like we are in a trap, with no way out.

That unknown factor, the future

Most of us find it hard to think much about the future — and no wonder.

Computer science is telling us of a time up ahead when our computer will get someone on the phone for us, with their faces looking back at us on a screen. If we speak nicely to our computer, it will even remind us audibly about the day’s appointments. Our children already have access to quantities of information once undreamed of. They are able to swap this information around the world and find endless entertainment through virtual reality in the corner of the room. More and more is available in small devices and the array becomes increasingly bewildering.

It is hard to visualize life 10 or 20 years ahead. The media reports so many pessimistic prospects like continual wars and violence, economic down-turns and deep divisions in the world community that it doesn’t pay to think about it. So, fatalistically, we resign ourselves to whatever will be. The attitude becomes a fixed way of life.

Feeling the impact of wisdom

Where do we look for some hope, some light, something dependable? Personally, I look to Jesus Christ, the one who makes sense of history and tells us that we are going somewhere. Constantly, he tells us to think about and prepare for the future. For instance: “Don’t store up for yourselves treasure on earth, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (Matthew chapter 6, verse 19Matthew chapter 6, verse 19). “Therefore keep watch, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him” (Matthew chapter 24, verses 42, & 44Matthew chapter 24, verses 42, & 44).

The New Testament goes on to urge people to move into a right relationship with God while the opportunity is here. More is taught about the return of Jesus to earth, emphasising our need to be ready. It tells us that life is uncertain but that death is certain. It warns that dying without being ready is a tragedy. It says that eternity without God is awful beyond words.

Preparation for the oncoming future is wise. Neglect of our future is unwise. What a great thing that God is offering us, a pardon and a life lived in the eternal present, in the joy of knowing Him personally. If you want to know Jesus personally then go to the response page