June 2002

“It Looks Scary! But!”

This week brings many young people face to face with a sometimes scary part of life, the future. Graduations have a way of bringing us to the great emotion of fear. Yes, all of us, (if we are honest), have walked the path of pomp and circumstance, wondering what the next steps would bring. Hoping that what we have accomplished has somehow prepared us for what will come next. But the future is a good thing. It has a way of humbling us to the point of realization that we are not in control. This can lead us to a greater dependency on our God.

A long time ago, there was a group of Hebrew people that were in a graduation of sorts. They were waiting to enter the promised land, a whole new chapter in their lives. The twelve spies were giving their report about their future in the land of milk and honey. Numbers 13 tells us the profound story. Ten men told a fearful story of the giants in the land. They told of the terrifying feeling of appearing like grasshoppers among the giant like people. For them the future looked bleak. Two men came to another conclusion. They said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

This gratuation ceremony ended badly; nobody graduated. The fear of the future sent everyone back to the desert classroom. The difference between the two reports was that Caleb and Joshua remembered that God had promised the land to them and that he would be with them. They knew they were in God's will and were ready to walk one step at a time by faith, knowing that God would be with them.

As we face an uncertain future, we can be fearless because of a certain, faithful, and unchanging God. Remember the words of Proverbs 3:5,6: Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

As we face the future, let us move forward by faith, knowing that God is with us.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Craig