Read Psalm 37:27-34. 27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 28For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
Three times the psalmist uses the word forever. He’s refusing to let his heart be controlled by today’s troubles alone, and rather he is finding hope in a future that has been promised to him by God.
Do you take this same kind of long view of life? Can you see forever? Do you know your future? Are you trusting in a future inheritance, a future preservation, a future vindication, a future exaltation, a future home with God? What if your future began to control your present?
The good news is that in Christ we can have the same controlling vision of our future that David had of his. In Christ we face no future condemnation. In Christ we will dwell forever as co-heirs of his kingdom. In Christ we are preserved forever by his saving grace, eternally secure in his love. And these future realities surely can and must change how we live today.
When you know your future gives you everything, you no longer have to fight for everything today. You can do good, even to your enemies, knowing that the Lord will deal with them in days to come. And at the same time, you can utter wisdom and speak justice for the poor, knowing that one day the Lord will establish righteousness on the earth, just as he has established his law in our hearts.
To live is Christ gives us the long view of our reality. Today is not all there is. Christ has preserved us for a future that will transform everything forever.
Prayer. Jesus, may I wait for you patiently today and keep your ways, knowing that my forever is in your hands. Amen.
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To Live is Christ 