The Future

At least as long as I can remember there hasn’t been an absence of those willing to predict the future. Just look at any of the publications near the checkout counter in the grocery store and read some of their headlines. I am constantly amused at how many people desire to know and predict tomorrow.

Former manager Earl Weaver foresees a pennant for the long-suffering Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs before the year 2500. Calorie counter Jennie Craig sees “a way to control fat storage on our bodies.” Writer Joseph Wambaugh bleakly expects the total eclipse of the printed word from the face of the earth.

Give people who are important or famous an invitation to write a prediction for the next millennium and listen for the sound of soapboxes being mounted. Get out your handkerchiefs seems to be the theme of a number of the 650 people recently polled for a forecast of the years between 2001 and 3000. James A Michener wrote, “Concerning the improvement of the human species so that war or other criminal behavior is no longer possible, I have not much hope.” Peter Straub predicts, “devastating new viruses and diseases, environmental disasters, bloody racial and religious conflicts and many other poisonous inheritances from the present century.” These thoughts come from “people of accomplishment” who were sent a blank United Nations postcard and asked to fill it with their vision of the future. There were many other responses, however none were quite as bleak as that of American artist Paul Cadmus. He wrote, “I foresee nothing but increasing deterioration in the world. Everything worsens: overpopulation thrives insanely, international poverty multiplies grotesquely, environmental conditions whither disastrously. I doubt life will be worth living.”

How tragic! There is another view of the future. And therein is the hope we have as believers in Christ.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:1-7 ESV).