God has given a future to share

As I look back at the Christmas season, I realize my wife and I have a tradition.

For her it is to watch Hallmark Christmas movies. I find the Hallmark movies to be all the same movie with different episodes telling the same story.

For me, it is watching the movie “A Christmas Carol.” I prefer the one with George C. Scott as Scrooge.

I find it interesting that the Ghost of Christmas yet to come is the most horrible and feared. The future has often been viewed as something to fear, because Death is always at the end. In many cultures, even today, the future is not something to look upon lightly.

Today, we have future forecasters in every field of endeavor.

Weather people try to predict the future and are getting better at it — although sometimes we do have to shovel a foot of “warm and sunny.” Businesses work on future trade; they try to predict what the future needs will be and meet them. The government continues to prepare for a future of, well whatever you can think of. Let’s face it, we are always looking to the future, and sometimes it seems like it is something to be feared.

But not for followers of Christ. You see, we already know what the future will be. The future will be in God’s presence as we read in Revelation. The future will be on God’s holy mountain, as we read in Isaiah. The future will have the return of Christ as we read in Matthew. Let’s face it, for the follower of Christ, the future is very bright. We don’t have to predict the Future; God has already told us what it is going to be.

So, as we start this New Year, let’s start it right. Let’s accept the fact that we have a future and then start letting everyone else know that they can have a future also.

That is the great thing about being a follower of Christ, we have been given a commission to share the Gospel with EVERYONE.

Folks, the coming months are going to be hard for many people. We have just had a taste of what weather and economics can be (see I’m even predicting the future). But we have the capability and the means to make life better for even the most downtrodden individual. We have the Gospel of Christ. If we are sharing it and LIVING it, people will not have to suffer. If we open our hearts to the needs of others, then lives will change.

Honestly folks, as you set out to live those New year’s resolutions, how hard would it be to resolve to buy an extra McDonald’s meal for someone you don’t know? How hard would it be to donate to a charity once a week? How hard would it be to call the school and see if there is an outstanding bill that needs to be paid on behalf of a child? How hard would it be to just show up at church with a Bible in your hand, wanting to learn more so you can serve more.

God has given us a future that needs to be shared, so let’s do it. Shalom my friends. See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.