While we as Christians typically “never know” what the future may hold in store for us, we can all rest assured that the LORD will be there with us every step of the way throughout our journey in this world. God’s Word constantly reminds the believer that He is there with them as they experience the numerous trials of their individual lives.
“…My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Exodus 33:14
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8
“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm34:7
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.” Psalm 34:15
“Fear thou not for I am with thee…” Isaiah 41:10
“…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world…” Matthew 28:20
Man’s Perspective Versus God’s Perspective
In that man is a finite physical being, he sees the world in terms of past, present, and future. While he may be aware of the past and present, knowledge of the future is largely hidden from man. As one old sage had whimsically stated concerning the human condition, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” As much as man might want to be able to see and know the future, he has to first wait for it to occur before he can be totally aware of it.
God on the other hand is not bound with the same limitations as man when it comes to the future. For He stands outside of His Creation as its Perfect Master. Unlike man, God is an infinite, omniscient, spiritual being, and is not bound by the dictates of the past, present, and future in the same way that humans are. He is capable of viewing the past, present, and future as one event. Concerning God’s perspective, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:15:
“That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been…”
The writer of the Book of Hebrews amplified upon this when he wrote:
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things (both past, present, and future) are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13
God, an omniscient spiritual being, is not limited as man is in knowing the totality of the events of the physical world, for He knew the total history of the Physical Creation from the moment that He created it:
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I Am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9,10
While we as humans tend to constantly worry about the possible negative events of our futures, God’s Word constantly admonishes us to fear not (….), for He has everything under control. The prophet Jeremiah wrote concerning God’s care, concern and plan for our lives:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
The Christian must always remember that when going through trials and tough times, God is in the trial, and He is working all things that occur in our lives to work together for our eventual good (Romans 8:28).
While we may “never know” where the roads of our lives will lead us, we can be confident that the LORD will be there with us every step of the way, guiding us and teaching us to learn to trust Him in all things.
Although we might question some of the trials that come upon us, we can rest assured knowing that when we are at the end of our lives and look back upon all the things that have transpired in them, we, like Jesus’ disciples, will proclaim: “…He hath done all things well…” (Mark 7:11).
