Futurity Wisely Hidden

“Whereas ye know not what may be on the morrow.”—James 4:14

In  stepping over the threshold of another year, we pause and ask, What will it bring forth? What joys or sorrows are in store for us? What plans shall we form for this year? What lessons have we learned in the past? What duties have we neglected in the position we occupy? What shall be our aim this year? Shall it be like those in the context, to buy, sell, and get gain? Or shall we be found seeking those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the Father?

I. We have a gracious arrangement.—The future is all unknown to us. If we could lift the veil we should enter upon the year with greater fear and anxiety; many would say, “Let me die at once, I cannot go through that.”

This must have added to our Saviour’s grief, He foreknew every step from Bethlehem to Calvary, all He would endure from men and devils, the baptism of suffering through which He must go to redeem His Church, every pang that would rend His tender, sensitive heart. Our heavenly Father has mercifully spared us this, He has so ordered we shall live by the day. In guidance, strength, provision, He deals with us daily, He has taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” “Lo, I am with you all the days.” It is when we look too far ahead our trouble begins. “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.”

“Day by day the manna fell,

Oh to learn this lesson well.”

Let us learn a lesson of fuller confidence in our God from this fact, He holds the reins of government. We may leave it all with Him, knowing that though the morrow is hidden from us, eternity is with Him, for ever is His time, He is working out His gracious plans every day. They are all converging to one end, His glory, our present and eternal good.

II. A check to presumption.—When we plan what we will do without taking God into account. Such were they of whom the apostle wrote, they would go into a certain place, there abide so long a time, engage in such pursuits; they were sure also of success in their enterprises, but God was not in all their thoughts. They ignored the fact that He held their breath in His hand. He controls all events, He alone could bless or thwart their projects; for that ye ought to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that.” He can, by a series of events which they cannot control, strip the affluent of their possessions; He can raise the indigent from poverty to plenty; can overturn the best laid plans of men; turn the wisdom of the wise into foolishness. No purpose can succeed well and permanently without God’s blessing is sought. He hath said, “Those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

He who blasphemously said,”I propose and also dispose,” soon found himself a lonely captive on the Isle of St. Helena, no longer the mighty Napoleon, but the abject prisoner stripped of all his military power and grandeur.

Let us each enter upon this year with humility, seeking help and guidance on every step we take, undertaking no enterprise without first committing our way unto the Lord. Watch the leadings of His hand, wait for the cloud, then go forward without fear; under the divine guidance we shall find safety. “His paths will drop fatness.” Though earthly prosperity may not always attend us, heavenly blessing will rest upon us. This is most important.

III. A stimulus to service.—Our time is short, we know not how soon our day of service for our Lord may close. “The night soon cometh when no man can work.” “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, or device, or knowledge in the grave whither thou goest.”

The writer has several times, in visiting the sick and dying, met with those of the Lord’s called and redeemed ones, who have deeply regretted they did not follow their Lord in baptism while they had the opportunity. If this should meet the eye of any of the Lord’s disobedient children, I hope it may influence them to obey His loving command at once, that they may not have cause to regret in a dying hour their lack of loyal obedience to Him, and how soon you may be brought there we cannot tell.

There are fields of service in which some of the Lord’s servants ought to be engaged. They have been thinking about it a long time, but there it still rests. It has not been put into practice yet, but seeing that time is so brief and your day of opportunity may so soon close, is it not time, dear friend, you were up and doing? The Lord’s cause needs you, enemies are rife; the ranks are daily thinning by death; step into the breach, stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are fighting the Lord’s battles, who are seeking to maintain His cause and disseminate His truth.

This is a voice to all who are now actively engaged in the Lord”s service; our day will soon close. To some of us there will be but few tomorrows, we have reached the noon, the sunset glow is already upon some of us, the shadows of the evening are lengthening; the land of far distances is drawing nearer, soon shall we exchange the sword and shield for the palm of victory and the harp well-tuned. Lord, keep us faithful, diligent, patient, persevering unto the end.