By Chris WittsThursday 3 Nov 2022Morning Devotions with Chris WittsDevotionsReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Yesterday I talked about this intriguing question ‘what keeps you awake at night?’ Many of us have concerns and worries, perhaps financial or because of a relationship breakdown. Some of the Ogilvy research survey highlights included:
- 22% feel as though they have to constantly please other people’
- 18% feel they need to try and fit in with people all the time’
- 47% of Australians are highly concerned about ‘how getting old will affect my physical ability’
- 41% are highly concerned about ‘how getting old will affect my mental capacity’
- 29% are highly concerned about ‘care for my ageing parents’
- 21% are highly concerned about ‘how getting old will affect my personal appearance’.
But what about the future?
How many of us lie awake at night worried about our days, weeks, months and years ahead?
It is important to ask God about this. It is an important issue.
There is a story in the book of Genesis of God coming to a man named Abraham. Abraham, like you, was working on his own picture of his future. He had a career. He was educated. He had a family. He had accrued material wealth. He was probably thinking about how to provide for his own retirement while providing for his family. He was probably managing a number of different tasks and issues of his life. And I imagine for Abraham there were also a few restless nights where he wondered about where his life was going. If his future would be secure, if he would be able to keep track of all that was going on, he needed to be well organized I suppose.
And perhaps it was during one of those sleepless nights when God interrupted his life with these incredible words. God said to Abraham, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So he went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abraham was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.”
So, what are we to make of a story like this?
There are several observations we can make, but look at the picture of God in the story. In the midst of a life filled with uncertainty and with this call on his life that is going to bring more uncertainty, God gives Abraham two words to live by ”I will. I will.”
In fact, seven times God says in some way or another, “I will.” Seven times God says, “I will do whatever it takes to get you where you need to go. I will.”
Just think about all the phrases this phrase isn’t.
- God doesn’t say, “I might.”
- God doesn’t say, “I can’t.”
- God doesn’t say, “I’ll try my best.”
- God doesn’t say, “I’ll think about it.”
- God doesn’t say, “You will.”
- God doesn’t say, “You have to.”
- God doesn’t say, “It’s only up to you.”
God defines Himself by a promise, “I will.”
There are companies in our world today whose sole purpose is to try to help people prepare for and manage accidents and injuries, Insurance companies.
And I was thinking this week about how these companies advertise, and I found some really great marketing slogans. Many of you will be familiar with some of these.
One goes like this, “Guarantees for the ‘if’ in life, or, “Take away the risk and you can do anything and “Cash if you die; cash if you don’t.” or “You’re in good hands.
So, question for you.
- Whose hands are you actually in?
- Who holds your future? You? Your spouse? Your parents? Your children? Your retirement account? Your financial advisor? Your insurance company?
Well, see the truth is, there is only one true source of insurance. One true source of assurance. One true source of safety and security in this entire universe. The only good hands belong to the God who interrupts our world with these two important words…I will. I will.
Remember the eternal God is not someone who gets busy and forgets. This is not an organisation that runs out of resources. This is the God of the universe, who comes to Abraham. Abraham didn’t even ask for it. Abraham was minding his own business. God interrupts his life and says, “From now on, your life is safe and secure in My hands, and I will get you where you need to go.”.