Living For Future You | Genesis 41

OPENING REMARKS‌ Grateful to be back at Men’s Advance Thank you, Pastor Hardy, and men of Bible Baptist for all the effort and spirit of service I’m grateful for ladies bringing the maze to life as well Glad to have men from Eastside Baptist Church in Sioux Falls here Thank you guys for coming. It means a lot to your Pastor

Don’t stand just yet, but turn to Genesis 41. I appreciate Pastor Hardy’s idea for the theme this weekend. Looking forward to hearing all the material by the time the weekend is over.

Peta Update

On October 3, 2022, PETA supporter and animal rights protester Alexander Taylor ran onto the field of a Rams - 49ers game in San Francisco. He sprinted across the field with a pink smoke bomb in hand, dashing back and forth to avoid security.

Recognizing the difficulty security was having to corral him, two Rams players - Bobby Wagner and Takkarist McKinley - surrendered to the call of ministry to diffuse the situation. Rather than tell you what they did, for the first time on PETA update history I’d like to show you the outcome, and as we watch the video, feel free to verbally respond to the parts you enjoy the most, as the Spirit leads, of course. VIDEO

A friend from here at BBC, Karl Strecker, inspired this punchline: “If you're going to protest against animals as food, don't do it on a field shared by muscled athletes who live on high protein diets.”

The only place a protestor would be in greater danger would be the meat line at Men's Advance. On the flip side, I wouldn't mind having a video of that. So if PETA is watching this tonight, feel free to send a rep to MA next year, but wait till we’re in the food line.

Speaking of PETA, Genesis 41 is all about the unhindered consumption of fresh beef.

Background of Text

Pharaoh has had two dreams: One about seven healthy cows being eaten by seven skinny cows, then another about seven healthy ears of corn being eaten by seven skinny ears of corn.

When he needs an interpreter, the Butler finally remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh “You’ve got to call this guy down in cell block D. He can help you.”

So they take Joseph out of prison, shave him, give him new clothes, and stand him before Pharaoh. Pharaoh tells him the dream and then says, “This is from God. Seven years of plenty are coming, the best crops you’ve ever seen, but they’ll be followed by seven years of the worst famine you’ve ever seen.”

STAND AND READ Vs. 32-41

Pharaoh takes off his ring and gives it to Joseph. He gives him royal clothes and gold chains. He makes Joseph second in command over Egypt.

READ Vs. 46-49, 53-57

‌Before you think the Q2 mindset isn’t a big deal, Joseph’s ability to look ahead and start early impacted millions of people. It made him a hero.

If one could impact the world with this mindset, what could God do with 1,700? I don’t know, but maybe we’ll get to find out this weekend.

Title: Living For Future You

LET’S PRAY

INTRODUCTION

Do you ever wish you could go back and change something you did earlier in life?

I would tell my…

8 Year Old Self

Don’t ride a Tonka truck like a skateboard or you’ll break your ankle.

9 Year Old Self

Don’t trust a rope loosely tied in a tree or you’ll break both of your arms.

11 Year Old Self

Don’t throw rocks near your dad’s van (or he’ll call you an idiot).

19 Year Old Self

Don’t follow other cars too closely, lest they slam on their brakes.

Last Week Self

Don’t say what you’re thinking if your wife is within earshot.

What would you tell your past self if you could send a message?

Don’t get into that relationship

Invest as early as possible

Avoid that friend

Buy that house as soon as you can

I know that’s silly because we can’t go back in time. But we also can’t neglect this truth: Time can’t be used to change your past, but it can be used to impact your future. (QUOTE)

Illustration: The Company Nerdwallet has an ad built on the phrase, “Don’t make your future you hate you.”

It’s a commercial with older people singing to their past selves and bemoaning all the ways their younger self failed to plan financially. Lyrics: "Never got a credit card with rewards, Now we'll never see the fjords. All these places we'll never go— Here ISN'T us in Mexico! Our life could have been very different— But, hey! Thanks to you it isn't.  —Don't make your future you hate you!"

Nerdwallet gets it. If “Present You” fails to invest in the important but non-urgent things, the quality of life “Future You” gets to experience won’t be nearly as good. I know it’s silly, but there’s a lot of truth to it.

I believe, for too many Christian men, your future you is going to hate present you.

Why? Because so many men are spiritually complacent. Sluggards about the things that matter to God. Unmoved by spiritual truth. Unmotivated to invest in eternal things. We’re consumed with the present.

It seems the only things that move us are the things in front of us. Too many of us have stopped realizing that “Future You” is directly impacted by the choices of “Present You.”

I’m thankful for men that live with the future in mind.

Bryce Carden, the fireman on the bridge in Louisville, spent years training for that once in a lifetime rescue. He invested thousands of hours on ropes courses for a moment that he didn’t know would ever come. That’s a Q2 mindset.

I’m thankful for examples of ways this is done well.

Our military is successful because they prepare for battle before the battle. A surgeon completes a successful operation because of years of education, training, and practice. First Responders are successful because of hours of training before the call.

I appreciate regular men like Jack Wilson in Texas, who took out an active shooter in his church with one shot just a few years ago. As a firearms instructor, he spent years learning to handle his weapon before that moment ever came.

Or Chesley Sullenberger, aka Sully, who ditched his plane in a controlled emergency landing in the Hudson River when a flock of geese took out both engines. He saved hundreds of lives, but not before thousands of hours in training and in the air.

We laud men like that. They’re heroes. There are men like that in this room. Servicemen, policemen, firemen, first responders, doctors. I’m thankful for the foresight and discipline of those who prepare for emergencies.

But I want to know, where are God’s men preparing like that? (Or How many emergencies could be avoided if God’s men would wake up?)

If you sleepwalk through your Christian life, How happy will your future you be with your present you? If you continue on your present path, will you future you hate you or love you?

It’s time to invest in “Future You.” And what better example of this mindset than Joseph?

I believe Joseph lived with “Future Joseph” in mind. Here’s how:

I. He Embraced God’s Vision For His Future

God revealed Joseph’s future in Genesis 37 when he was 17 years old. From that moment, Joseph embraced God’s vision for his future. God showed him that he would rule and have influence over many.

And I believe God’s version of his “Future Self” drove his daily choices.

It helped him endure hatred. It gave him faith in a pit and hope as a slave.

It gave him strength to look a beautiful woman in the eyes and say, “NO!” when she wanted to sleep with him.

It gave him perseverance in a prison cell when any of us would have packed it in.

The passion you have for God’s version of “Future You” will determine how you live as “Present You.”

Well before Genesis 41, Joseph had proven to be a man who lived for the future rather than the present.

You’ll never buy into a Q2 mindset if you don’t have a vision for God’s version of “Future You.” Don’t assume today’s version of you is all you will ever be. God has something more for each of us.

When you embrace God’s version of “Future You…”

It will help you say no to lust because God has something better.

It will help you prioritize church over a career because treasure in heaven lasts longer than retirement.

We need more men to embrace God’s version of their “Future Self” instead of letting a job or the culture dictate what you’re supposed to look like.

Help your “future you” love you. God’s version of “Future You” will transform your present decisions.

Joseph lived with “Future Joseph” in mind:

II. He Took God’s Warnings Seriously - Read Vs. 28-32

Joseph took God’s revelation seriously. You might say, “Yeah, but God gave him special abilities to interpret dreams. I can’t do that.”

And to that I say, “Wow, you’re right. Joseph is the only lucky one. None of us have God’s revelation of on what’s coming and how to prepare for it.”

“None of us have God’s specific revelation regarding what happens when we obey and disobey.”

“None of us have insight into cause and effect and how God blesses or punishes people.”

“We have no way of preparing for the future like Joseph did!”

Joseph had wisdom, but we have God’s Word!

You have something more sure than dreams that tells you everything you need to know about matters pertaining to life and godliness.

You want to make your “Future You” to hate “You”? Live your life apart from God’s wisdom. Ignore God’s Word when it’s preached. Don’t take it seriously or apply it. and watch your house fall flat.

We have more insight than Joseph had. We just don’t appreciate it like Joseph did.

We have God’s mind on:

Resisting temptation, yet we fail to protect ourselves.

Being a good husband, but we live for self and drive her away.

Raising kids that love God, but we leave Him out of the process and wonder why they drift.

How to please God, but we neglect God’s Word and wonder why life feels empty.

Joseph had very little light, but did all he could with it. We have all the light we need, and we wander in the dark.

Illustration: Hiker in Colorado stayed lost for 24 hours because he ignored calls from rescuers trying to reach him. Why? He said, “I didn’t recognize their numbers, so I didn’t answer.”

What a dummy! But that’s how the average Christian man lives. We have resources for wisdom all around us, insight into the dangers of life, but we ignore it. And every moment we wait puts us at risk.

You have God’s Word - Read and obey it!

You have a Pastor - Give him permission to talk to you!

You have godly men around you - Make yourself accountable to them!

You have the HS - Take His promptings seriously.

If you will take these seriously, you’ll help your “Future You” love “You.”

Here’s another way this worked for Joseph:

III. He Acted As Early As Possible - Vs. 33-36

Joseph didn’t view a gap in time as an excuse to wait to act.

There are two kinds of responses in situations like this:

The fool says, “I STILL have seven years. That’s plenty of time. I’ll get to it.”

The wise man says, “I ONLY have seven years. That’s not much time. I must act today.”

When many would have said, “I STILL have seven years,” Joseph said, “I ONLY have seven years.”

“During the seven good years, we need to set aside one fifth of everything harvested. I know the temptation will be to enjoy the extra and lounge around because it will be bumper crop after bumper crop after bumper crop. But we have to save 20% for when the Famine comes.”

According to vs. 36, Joseph was telling Pharaoh “We’re going to die unless we get to work.”

So he did. He went out through Egypt in verses 45 and 46. He wasted no time. He got to work as early as possible to give him as much of an advantage as possible. He said, “We ONLY have seven years.”

Most men think one of two ways - STILL or ONLY. If your “Future You” is going to love “You”, you must be an “ONLY” man and not a “STILL” man.

There’s never as much time as you think. There’s no time to waste. ONLY one life will soon be passed. ONLY what’s done for Christ will last.

Most men have a skewed perception of time.

“I STILL have 18 years with my kids.” No, friend, you ONLY have 18 years.

“I STILL have the rest of my life to serve God.” What if you ONLY have 6 months left?

“I STILL have time to talk to my co-worker about the Lord.” How do you know you don’t ONLY have weeks left before they leave for a different job?

“I STILL have time to overcome that temptation. It hasn’t hurt me yet.” What if you ONLY get one shot and you’re not ready when it comes?

“Jesus hasn’t come back in 2000 years, I STILL have time.” How do you know we don’t ONLY have one more day?

The STILL mindset will make your future you hate you.

I think about the JUDGMENT SEAT

“I STILL have plenty of time before I stand before God and answer for my life.”

Christian, at the Judgment Seat, when men stand before God by themselves and answer for their lives, not one will say, “This isn’t as big a deal as I thought. I’m not sure why I was so worried about it.”

No, in that moment, your “Future You” will wish you could go back and tell “Present You” to stop wasting time and get to work for God!

Invest in God’s kingdom

Spend your life knowing the Lord

Give yourself to pray and His church

Tell people about Jesus Christ

No one will say, “I should have started serving God later.”

By the way, there’s not a boy too young in this room to get serious about his “Future You.” Joseph was a kid. If you’ll start now, boys, who knows the kind of impact you can have.

Here’s an interesting twist on the STILL and ONLY dynamic: The man that lives the STILL life now will stand before God one day and say, “IF ONLY.”

Don’t make your “Future You” hate “You.”

This also makes me think about The Great White Throne Judgment

Every spiritually lost person will stand before God one day. He will open the Lamb’s book of life and see if your name is there. If it’s not, you will face God’s wrath and eternal punishment, separated from God in a lake of fire.

In a crowd this size, there have to be some that this applies to.

Friend, have you met Jesus Christ? Have you placed your faith in Him alone to save you from your sins?

This is the ultimate Q2 decision. It’s the most important decision you’ll ever make, but it doesn’t seem urgent. You’re young. You’re not that bad. You have time. How can you guarantee that?

Friend:

Sin is your problem

Hell is the consequence.

But Jesus Christ is the answer.

You want your “Future You” to hate “You”?

Tell yourself “I STILL have time. I’ll do it later.” You may ONLY have tonight.

A “STILL” Mindset Waits till the crisis forces him to act. An “ONLY” mindset acts with knowledge well before the crisis ever comes. This is the true hero.

Consider the difference it made for Joseph:

1. It Saved Joseph’s Family

God’s reason for getting Joseph to Egypt was to save Israel. God was able to accomplish His purposes because Joseph prepared for the Famine.

Joseph saved his family because he was driven by wisdom, not crisis.

Men, God has people either in your life or in your future that you are meant to inspire and lead and protect and guide and influence.

Your primary role is to impact the people closest to you spiritually. Not just in the moment, but their future.

And too many men spend more time on a phone than talking to their kids. Or more time at the lake or a hunting blind than with their church family. And I’m not saying those things are wrong, unless they keep you from acting early in your most important roles.

When you live a Q2 life, it won’t just be your “Future You” that loves you. Your kids’ “Future You’s” will love you. And your wife’s. And the guys in your church family. God has you here for a reason. Don’t miss it.

The effects of living for the future…

2. It Saved A Nation

Joseph’s foresight had them in Q2 when everyone else was in Q1. People came from miles around to be rescued by Joseph.

He was able to influence perhaps millions of people. Who knows but that his actions didn’t save a tribe or race of people.

When people are in a Q1 Famine, they’re going to look to someone in Q2 for help. Those in a crisis won’t be looking for someone else living for the urgent and unimportant.

A Q1 employee won’t be the one asked to take on an important project.

A Q1 church member won’t be the one called by the pastor when it matters.

Those in crisis will go to someone clearly in Q2.

That’s what happened to Egypt. And it can happen for you. Q2 means you’re living for the important things, which others will notice and seek you out about.

God wants you, through your local church, to leave a mark on this world.

He may be asking some young man or even an older man to surrender to ministry. To serve God with your life. To reach the people in the Famine. You only have one life and not much time. Make it count.

But too many men can’t because they’re consumed by debt, or have too many irons in the fire, or are just too distracted by the unimportant.

You have to decide what is going to matter the most to your “Future You.” Money or souls. Career or heavenly rewards. Present comfort or future fruit?

You ONLY have one life. Are you sure you want to live it being STILL when you ONLY have 70-80 years. Don’t make your future you hate you. Treat time like it’s limited, because it is. And you can leave a mark on those around you like Joseph did.

One more effect of living for the future

3. It Took Joseph To The Throne

Joseph fully realized everything God prepared him to do. His vision as a 17 year old came true.

In Genesis 41:44 Pharaoh told Joseph, “…without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

You talk about influence. That was the realization of a dream God gave him as a teenager.

So I was imagining what “Future Joseph” would have said to 17 year old Joseph.

“It’s going to be hard, but it’s worth it. You’re going to feel like throwing in the towel, don’t. Don’t let hatred or betrayal or temptation override God’s version of “Future You.” If you will embrace it, God is going to use you to save your family and impact a nation. If you will live an ONLY life instead of a STILL life, the end is worth it all!”

CONCLUSION

What would your “Future You” say to “Present you”?

“I sure wish you hadn’t given in to that temptation. It cost you everything.”

“I know you’re just a teenager, but I wish you had recognized that the wrong friends and priorities would cause you to miss out on a life blessed by God. You made permanent decision on temporary emotions and it cost you.”

“If only you had recognized how short your time was with your son, maybe you would have worked less and spent more time with him.”

“If only you had realized that Men’s Advance was your last opportunity to be saved. You should have said yes.”

“If only you had realized God wanted to use you to make a difference in this world instead of living for money. But you lived for the present.”

Here’s what I want my “Future You” to say to “Me.”

“Thank you, Jason, for living for God. There were difficulties, but choosing to serve God as a young man will multiply your rewards when you finally see Him face to face. Love your wife and kids. Give yourself to your local church. Invest in the members of Eastside Baptist . Do right. Even when it’s hard. Even when no one says “thank you.” Even when you’re tempted. Because God makes every single moment lived for Him worth it in the end. Embrace God’s vision for your “Future You,” live by God’s wisdom, Get to work early, and discover that you get to leave a mark on your family and the next generation. And God will bless you immensely for it. It’s not STILL, Jason, it’s ONLY. So go be like Joseph.”

What kind of letter do you want from your “Future You”? Live today with that message in mind.

Don’t make your “Future You” hate “You.” Embrace God’s vision for Future You Take God’s warnings seriously Act as early as possible Lead the ones near you Reach the ones around you And experience everything God wants to bless your life with

Time is a gift from God. Not to change the past, but to impact your future. And we all still have a future. So there’s no better time to start than tonight.