"Knowing Who Holds the Future

Scriptural Text: Eccl 9:1

“Knowing Who Holds the Future”

The crash of the stock market in 1929 wiped out the fortunes of many people. A raft of suicides followed by people who had lived only for material things. These people felt they had nothing left for which to live.

A man who I knew in later years not only lost all he had, but he was $350,000 in debt. Instead of taking his life, he went to his creditors and told them if they would give him time he would repay them with interest. Over twenty years later he made the final payment. At the time of his death, he was once again a wealthy man. He had set his priorities straight.

 Herschel H. Hobbs, My Favorite Illustrations, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1990), 215.

“Yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” God is our priority! Heb. 13:8

We humans have a great quest for an answer to the following question, "Where are satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness found in life?”

Therefore, there is a natural desire to know the future. [Not knowing the future] brings about depression and worries and fears for many when You do not know what a day may bring forth (Prov. 27:1); you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will prosper (Eccles. 11:6); when don’t know what is to be (Eccles. 8:7); you do not know about tomorrow (Jas. 4:14); I do not know the day of my death (Gen. 27:2); man does not know his time (Eccles. 9:12);

Especially in moments of crisis, i.e.,WILL THE UNITED STATES BECOME A BETTER OR WORSE NATION IN THE NEXT FEW DECADES? we ask the prophets to tell us what is ahead.”

Many will seek out,

Divination or soothsaying or fortune telling that can be an easy demonic door. In Acts 16:16–18, the apostle Paul commands the evil spirit that empowered the little girl to tell fortunes to come out of her, and the evil spirit did.

Man’s desire to know the future is manipulated by the demonic world even though demons are not omniscient.

But all persons seeking to either know the future in order to plan their own destinies, independent of the Lord God who holds the future in His hands, or those persons playing around with soothsaying and divination are open to demonic influence.

Quote by Thomas Aquinas, Philosopher and Theologian

“On the contrary, It is written (Eccles. 8:6, 7), There is a great affliction for man, because he is ignorant of things past; and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.”-(Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne).)

“As the eternal, omniscient God, He has lived our yesterdays, our todays, and our tomorrows, the past, present, and future.”

Rather than wanting to know the details of the future out of a sense of fear, we need to repent of our sins and trust in the Father. Our song will then be, “I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.”

… do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. The Bible, Matthew 6:34

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow. Author unknown

“The great thing is to be found at one’s post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years. C.S. Lewis

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. Martin Luther

“Men are in the Hand of God” Eccl 9:1-18

It is written in the book of Eccles 9:1-18 that “Men are in the Hand of God,” the main theme.

1. Keep in mind that no person knows what awaits him (v.1). 2. Know that death is the most horrible tragedy of the human race (vv. 2-6).

3. Enjoy life and acknowledge God as the Giver of life (vv. 7-10). 4. Be aware that life is uncertain—totally unpredictable (vv. 11-18).

Chapters 10 and 11 reinforces the thought that is in verse (1)

Keep in mind that no person knows what awaits him. (v.1 ) The future is unpredictable. ⇒ Death is inevitable. ⇒ Make the most of life while you can

The first of these three themes is emphasized here: we do not and cannot know what the future holds.

Therefore: The righteous and the wise are in God’s hands, under His care (v.1).

The person who pursues folly and madness, who makes poor choices is not in God’s hands or under His care. But the wise, the person who sees life from God’s perspective and walks accordingly, is in God’s hands and under His care.

To be in God’s hands and under His care simply means that God looks after and takes care of the person who lives righteously and wisely. If any of us place our lives in God’s hands, He will take care of us. This is God’s wonderful promise:

The promises of being in God’s hands and under His care (Matt. 6:33, Luke 12:7, 1 Pet 5:7, Ps. 40:17, Isa. 41:10)

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 12:7 (NKJV) 7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) 7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Psalm 40:17 (NKJV) 17But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) 10Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

No person—righteous or unrighteous—knows whether love or hate lies ahead.

Even the wise have no control over the future and no power over the outcome of their deeds. There are no guarantees.

Therefore, if we trust God with all we are and have, He gives us a guarantee: He will work all things together for our good, and whatever He works out will be best for us (Ro.8:28).

God’s Plan for Your Future ( Jeremiah 29:11–14, 1 Pet 5:6, Josh 4:24)

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) 6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Joshua 4:24 (NKJV) 24that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Conclusion: Accept Your Future-The future affords new opportunities. (Jer 29:11, Ps 119:71, Ps 62:5, 2 Cor 4:18, Isa 43:18-19)

— Hope in the plans that God has for your future.

“ ‘For 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.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11)

— Know that your sorrow and grief will not be wasted.

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Psalm 119:71)

— Put all your hope in God.

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” (Psalm 62:5)

— Have faith in God, whom you cannot see.

“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.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

— Know that God will fill the void in your life.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18–19)

 June Hunt, Biblical Counseling Keys on Grief Recovery: Living at Peace with Loss, (Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, 2008), 21.

....No man knows what tomorrow may bring, and no man can change the past. God holds tomorrow, and he forgives the past. The future is not here, and the past is gone forever. We can only live in the present...

 Frank Minirth, The Minirth Guide for Christian Counselors, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 51.