What does your future hold?

But God knows every single thing that will happen in the future:  he makes known "the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10).   Every word which we utter,  God knows completely,  even before the word is spoken  (Psalm 139:4).   Nothing happens without God's knowledge and involvement: "Not one (sparrow) falls to the ground apart from the will of your Father (ie God).  Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid"  (Matthew 10:29)

Therefore we at St Andrew's turn to God for sure knowledge of our future.  Though God has not revealed all the specific details,  he has made clear the things that are really important about our present and future:
 

(1) The world is presently in a state of  "bondage to decay" (Romans 8:21).

"Bondage to decay" is a very realistic description of the world, don't you think?  The world seems to lurch from one crisis to another (eg from Kosova to East Timor).  The evening news is peppered with "natural" disasters like the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan.  At a personal level,  even if we ourselves aren't directly suffering,  some of our loved ones probably are,  perhaps from disease or perhaps from family breakdown.

Is this to be your future indefinitely?

No.  In fact, though God has also given us much that is good to enjoy,  Jesus told us to expect things to get worse rather than better before he returns.  (Mark 13:7-8)

(2) In this world,  we as Christians are being progressively changed to become like Jesus.

God is working out his purposes through this world.  Whatever our future may hold, God has made these great promises to those who love him:

(i) "In all things he works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28), and
(ii) "We are being transformed into his (ie Jesus') likeness with ever increasing glory" (2 Cor 3:18).

To be transformed into the likeness of Jesus is a remarkable thing, when you consider who Jesus is!  (See Who Jesus is ).  But on earth,  Jesus loved others with complete selflessness.  Jesus suffered and died even for us.  We must expect therefore that  we will begin to love other people as he loved us.  In this world,  this inevitably means self denial.  We share in both Jesus' sufferings and his glory (Romans 8:17).

(3) This world,  with its suffering and evil will not last forever.

One day Jesus will return.  Then there will be "a new heaven and a new earth.  ...  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,  for the old order of things will pass away."    (Revelation 21:1,4)

Those of us who have committed their lives to Jesus,  will share in this renewed creation.  Our bodies will no longer be weak, decaying and inclined to disease (1 Cor 15:42-44).  Our hearts will no longer incline us to evil, since we will be like Jesus.

(4) When Jesus returns,  our future will be determined finally by how we have treated Jesus.

Not everyone will enjoy this renewed creation.  It is only for those who trust Jesus: "Whoever believes in the Son (ie Jesus) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,  for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

If you reject Jesus in this world, God will effectively confirm your decision when Jesus returns.  You will be "shut out from the presence of the Lord." (2 Thessalonians 1:9)