Encouragement for Today

Future Glory
Article by Janice Garrison

What do you think of when you think of the future? Do you think of the future in physical or spiritual terms?

I must admit that generally speaking, I think of the future in physical terms. Let me explain….When I wake up each morning, I think of what day it is. If it’s Monday I know I will be going to Ladies Bible Class, so I plan my morning according to what time I need to leave. That means I have less time on the computer, squeeze in my 2 cups of coffee and a bowl of cereal, put my makeup on, fix my hair and leave in time to pick up my friend Debra, if she needs a ride that day. By the way, you will be pleased to know, that yes, I did get dressed too! I know; it’s a scary thought what can happen if you leave out small details

I usually make a list for things I need for my Monday trip to Wal-Mart after LBC, remind myself to call Mom and see if she needs anything. If time allows, she and I will get to play Scrabble in the afternoon. Then, still planning ahead, I make mental notes of what I’m going to prepare for our linner. (Lunch/Dinner) Perhaps I will have some leftovers from the weekend, or soup and sandwich; after all, I haven’t left much time for cooking. Since we retired, Larry and I usually eat our main meal between 2 and 4pm. So you see; all of that thinking and planning was mental/physical.

I guess then that I multi-task between my physical and spiritual self. I have prayerfully, disciplined myself with the Word, and have ‘let my light shine’ in all of the physical activities of my day, while I have thought of God, have studied and discussed spiritual things, I have not thought of death or heaven.

For the Christian, I believe that to be completely natural. We know our hope lies in Christ and we live our lives pressing on to our goal, which is heaven. We try to live each day being prepared; knowing each day could be our last. If we are experiencing peace and good times or sufferings and trials, we know we are living toward our future. We see this in 2 Cor 4:17-18: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV

Yes- I live, I plan, and the older I get, I wait in eager expectation of being with the Lord, eternally.