LOOKING FORWARD!
Jesus had a radical notion: the present, he taught, depends on the future. The quality of our life today depends on our vision of the future.
Whether we experience life as frightening or exciting, whether we worry or rejoice, whether we feel purposeful or bored, depends on our view of the future. Anxiety arises when there is a lack of faith in tomorrow. Depression emerges when we lack a hopeful vision of the future. Selfishness flourishes when we can’t see beyond our current situation.
Churches are like people (actually, churches are people!). Too often, they attempt to save themselves by keeping things exactly as they have always been—but this is a sure way to experience the loss of true authenticity as a growing fellowship of Christ-followers.
It is written in the book of Proverbs: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
I’m writing this on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 2021. He had a vision of the future that powerfully transforms the present.
Dr. King declared:
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident—that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood….I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
We are still being transformed by this vision.
Tom McSherry shared with us this past week how the founders of Foothills Community Church had a dream. They envisioned a church where vibrantly sincere worship, a united and loving fellowship, the spirit of acceptance and grace, along with compassionate Christian service would be so overwhelmingly beautiful, compelling and irresistible that people would be drawn—lured to Christ and the Family of God.
Their dream has been transformed into reality and is positively impacting each of our lives today!
Can we agree together to allow ourselves the courage to be overcome by this continuing vision?
As I look at the future of the church, and of this church in particular, I’m reminded of the words of George Bernard Shaw:
“You see things as they are; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’ (Back to Methuselah, 1921).
Please join us this Sabbath for a powerful message that will move our church forward and help you in your walk with Christ. Watch us on our website and YouTube channel.
Duff