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“…that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come;…”

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While on vacation a man went canoeing on a river that was unknown to him. He paddled along for a long time, enjoying the landscape, when he began to feel the current accelerating.  As the canoe picked up speed it suddenly hit a submerged rock, jarring the paddle loose from the man’s hands. He watched helplessly as it floated away. Then, his ear caught the sound of roaring water up ahead. The canoe was being pulled  toward a waterfall. 

One of the signal contradictions of our time is, on the one hand, the triumphant progress of technology and science and, on the other, the sense that humanity has reached a point where the problems, the chaotic difficulties we face may be too much for us. The world has gotten out of control and we may not be able to pull it back. There have been voices in recent decades suggesting that, like the dinosaurs, humanity’s time on this planet may be coming to an end. The urge to leave the planet, to consider the daunting challenge of actually colonizing other planets can be a reflection of this way of thinking. The mood is here. And while it may not always surface it is here. It may be in you. How do we deal with it?

Some would suggest that when the canoe reaches the edge of the waterfall the thing to do is get up and jump. We should defy the ominous future and take things into our own hands, be the masters of our own fate. Others, would drift along keeping their eyes on the shoreline, pulling into themselves, trying to deny the reality of what is actually happening. Still others would lie down in the canoe, cover their heads and ride their fears into the future.

We do face an uncertain future. But when has it not been so? No generation has been given a road map for tomorrow. Each day must be received in trust, in faith. The Christian faith affirms that however ominous the future may appear to be, it will always resolve into the purposes of God.

The gospels tell the story of the ascension of Jesus into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. From this place of power and authority, the Bible tells us, Christ holds the reigns of history, and your life, in His hands. You may not have the assurance of knowing where you are going, but you can be assured that the currents beneath you flow out of His good and gracious purposes.

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“May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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