WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

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All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

LCCN 2016959764

ISBN 978-1-4347-1064-2

eISBN 978-1-4347-1155-7

© 2017 John F. Walvoord

The Team: Tim Peterson, Amy Konyndyk, Nick Lee,

Cara Iverson, Helen Macdonald, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Jon Middel

Cover Photo: Getty Images

First Edition 2017

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012717

Note from the Publisher

God’s Grace Guarantees a Fabulous Future

The renowned author C. S. Lewis once commented, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”

It’s true that each person on earth is moving steadily and unceasingly into the future. It’s also true that nearly everyone spends considerable time and energy wondering what the future holds. Some look forward with excitement, some with anxiety. Some fear the unknown, while others are motivated by it.

Many people don’t just speculate about the future; they also actively try to ascertain details about it. Sadly, countless people seek answers from psychics, fortune-tellers, horoscopes, astrological signs, and so on. An entire industry exists, generating billions of dollars, on the promise that “experts” can tell people in detail how their lives will unfold.

The good news is that there is a much more reliable source of information about the future. God speaks to us through His Word, and within those pages we find clear answers about the shape our lives will take and the way our paths forward will open up. The Bible does not provide details about our individual lives, such as what vocations we will pursue, where we will live, and when we will die. But Scripture does paint a picture of life in broad strokes and, more important, offers a vivid portrait of what our lives will be like when our days on earth end.

God, the Creator of all, has chosen to reveal an amazing amount of information about the future—the world’s future and every person’s future. For those who claim His Son as Savior, looking ahead need not be fearful or worrisome. Why? Because Scripture is full of assurances that your heavenly Father will provide for you and protect you: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).

Scripture does not promise that Christ followers will be exempt from hardships and heartaches. Indeed, the biblical writers tell us that human existence is sure to bring trials and tribulations and that Christians can expect times of persecution (2 Thess. 1:4). If this makes your future seem daunting, cling to the fact that any short-term adversity will pale in comparison to the long-term joy that’s in store for you. According to the apostle Paul, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17).

In the pages that follow, we’ll provide an array of scriptures that, when pieced together, form a mosaic depicting the beautiful future that awaits you. As much as possible, we will allow Scripture to speak for itself when foretelling what your future holds. We have included commentary on many passages to provide context and to clarify terms and references that might be unfamiliar to modern readers. Because the Bible contains hundreds of promises to God’s children, we’ll explore many of the assurances that directly relate to your life here and beyond. We’ll also see that how we live moment by moment, day by day, significantly influences the quality of our lives on earth and the rewards that await us in heaven.

It is our prayer that this book will serve as an open door for God to speak to your heart and mind regarding your future. Most of all, may you draw courage and comfort in knowing that the God who created everything cares deeply about you, now and forever.

1

From This Point Forward

A Timeline of the Believer’s Life

Each of God’s children is unique—a creation completely distinct from any other throughout history. Our loving Creator has designed every individual to be “one of a kind”—a singular blend of talents, tendencies, and personality traits. Still, there are some milestones that all believers will experience as members of God’s family.

1. Fallenness

Since the fall of mankind, each and every person has been born with sin in his heart. This means that we are born into a broken relationship with God. Psalm 51:5 puts it this way: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

God, in His great love and compassion, did not desire for people to remain at odds with Him. Over and over again, He extended His hand to the people of Israel, attempting to restore relationship with them. Yet there was no sacrifice great enough to wash away their sins for all time. God had a solution in mind, and it would come at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice.

Romans 6 describes the great penalty of sin—and God’s even greater power:

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (vv. 20–23)

2. Repentance

One of the most pivotal moments in a person’s life is when he decides to turn away from sin and seek God’s path instead. This rejection of the former ways of life is necessary for a person to be ready for a lifetime of submission to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul said, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). Later, he wrote, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10). Without true repentance, faith is not possible. Dwelling in sin is incompatible with living a life of faithfulness. It is only after we have turned away from our sinful selves and declared that God’s ways are right that we are ready to be welcomed into His family.

3. Baptism

There is some debate among Christians about when and how baptism should occur. What is clear is that baptism is a significant event in the life of a believer, marking the rejection of sin and the declaration of rebirth in Christ.

In Acts 2:38, Peter proclaimed, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

During baptism, the Holy Spirit fills the believer. But what happens next? How does baptism affect the rest of a believer’s life? Scripture describes the many roles of the Holy Spirit, but it’s clear that the primary function of the Holy Spirit is to enable a believer to live a new life, characterized by purity and Christlikeness.

The apostle Paul provides this insight:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom. 6:1–4)

Thankfully, our sinful nature, which is spiritually toxic and leads to everlasting death, is washed away through baptism.

4. The Journey

The specifics of your life story—the highs and lows, sorrows and joys—will be as wonderful and mysterious as the Author of life Himself. No one else will ever have your exact story. But there are some themes that others will also share: loss, restoration, joy, and grief, to name a few. As the author of Ecclesiastes wisely observed, life will include many ups and downs, twists and turns:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace. (3:1–8)

Scripture gives the assurance that through it all God will always be faithful, a trustworthy Father through all the experiences we encounter. The Holy Spirit living within us will supply wisdom and comfort. Here is an overview of what you can anticipate experiencing over the course of your lifetime.

Trials

Times of adversity and difficulty are inevitable in life, and these come in many forms; job loss, failing health, financial hardship, and strained relationships are just a few of the ways we can be tried and tested. Trials are a necessary part of strengthening our faith. The ultimate goal is to produce a trust in Jesus so strong that it can withstand any earthly difficulty. A faith like this will help us stand firm in life as we prepare for eternity with Him.

The apostle Peter explained the value of earthly afflictions and struggles:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet. 1:6–9 ESV)

During times of hardship, it can be easy to lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives. After all, we tend to believe that when things are going well, God must be pleased with us. By extension, if times are hard, it must be true that He is displeased. But Scripture actually refutes this line of thinking and often asserts just the opposite. As Paul assured us,

We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom. 5:2–5 ESV)

When viewed through this lens, it becomes clear that Jesus has redeemed even our sufferings. Our trials are not wasted; rather, they cultivate hopefulness in our hearts. Not only that, but they lead to another valuable aspect of the Christian life: transformation.

Transformation

Baptism is a onetime event in the Christian’s life, but repentance is an ongoing practice we must adopt for the rest of our lives. Repentance keeps our hearts soft to the teachings of God through His Word, as well as to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Confessing our sins to one another and to God opens the door for the transformation of our hearts and minds. As Paul astutely described in his letter to the Colossians,

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Col. 3:5–10)

Renewal in the knowledge of God is the mark of a true believer. You can count on the Holy Spirit transforming you into a better likeness of Christ throughout your life. He will use every circumstance in your life to draw you closer to Jesus. Through this astounding work, others will be able to see Jesus clearly through your life.

Persecution

Again and again throughout Scripture, we see evidence that when a believer models his life after Jesus’s teachings, persecution follows close behind. Paul put it plainly in his letter to Timothy, saying, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).

What is persecution, exactly? And how does it differ from other hardships? Peter describes persecution as a particular kind of “fiery trial.” Rather than being caught off guard, Peter urges us to expect these types of tribulations:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Pet. 4:12–14 ESV)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described persecution as suffering for the sake of righteousness: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).

The apostle Paul explained that his sufferings had the effect of advancing the message of the gospel:

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Phil. 1:12–14)

As we can see from these examples and others in Scripture, persecution is a holy suffering specifically for the sake of Jesus Christ. We are not left in the dark on the issue of persecution; we know that at some point in our lives, we will experience unjust suffering because of our allegiance to Christ. How should we respond to such treatment? Paul detailed his response in his letter to the church at Corinth: “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

When you experience intense suffering, are you inclined to rejoice? Do you take delight in knowing that you are enduring hardship for the sake of your faith? Or do you, like so many people, fall into despair? Passages such as these remind us that God’s economy is different from man’s. He values humility, sacrifice, and obedience, and He will empower you to endure every trial that comes your way.

Living Out the Word

One unmistakable mark of a transformed and true believer is that he lives in a way that is consistent with God’s values. Simply put, a true believer should strive to “walk the walk.” As James, brother and follower of Jesus, succinctly wrote,

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. (1:22–26 ESV)

God has placed you in your family, neighborhood, church, and place of employment for a specific reason. No detail has been overlooked. He desires for you to complete the “good works, which God prepared in advance” for you to do (Eph. 2:10). Your life will be filled with opportunities to bless, encourage, support, and challenge others. The best part is that you will not be left to your own devices; the Holy Spirit will fill and empower you to do these tasks so you may be a reflection of Jesus Christ.

Family Reunion

None of us knows how many days we will be given on this earth. Thankfully, God Himself has prearranged all the details. He knew exactly when we would be born and knows when our lives will come to an end. It’s not uncommon for people to worry about death. Even the most faithful believers can feel unease about the idea of dying. But Jesus helps us maintain a proper perspective: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).

Whether you are alive to witness the coming of Jesus or your life ends naturally, you can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus has prepared a room for you in His Father’s house (John 14:1–3). Your reunion with God will be one of incomprehensible joy and peace. All the sorrows of the world will be put to rest. Imagine the glory of Paul’s depiction of our heavenly home:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor. 15:51–54 ESV)

At the end of your days, you will stand face-to-face with your Creator and He will renew you in every way. This is a promise you can count on as you go through life, bringing honor and glory to Him on this side of heaven.