Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr.
Friends, we like to think that we’re in charge of our lives. In reality, we don’t know what a day may bring let alone the next month or year. Life is full of uncertainties, but if we focus on the worst possibilities, we’ll live in a constant state of stress. This is not what the Lord intends for us. His desire through everything is to fill us with His peace, a peace that is not earthly, but transcends our changing circumstances (John 14:27).
But how can we overcome fear and anxiety regarding the future? One answer is seen in the life of Moses. So much of what he experienced was unpredictable, e.g.: having to escape from Egypt, living as a shepherd in the desert for 40 years after having been raised in Pharaoh’s household, and then being used by God to rescue the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. How did he do it? “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is unseen,” Hebrews 11:27.
The key to facing an uncertain future is ‘seeing’ the Lord. Obviously, the writer of Hebrews was not speaking about physical sight because God dwells in unapproachable light, and no man has seen or can see Him (1 Timothy 6:16).
Although Scripture says that Moses spoke to God face to face in Exodus 33:11, a few verses later when he asked to see God’s glory, the Lord told him: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20). What Moses experienced in his intimate communications was the Lord’s presence with him, and that’s how we too may see the One who is unseen.
Every believer has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, and that relationship includes intimate communion with Christ through prayer, praise, and meditation. When Jesus promised “I am with you always,” Matthews 28:20, He was speaking to all those through the ages who would place their faith in Him. Today, Jesus is not present on earth to be seen physically, but He is with his people in Spirit.
Without faith in Jesus Christ, no one can have a perfectly pure heart. But if we believe in Him for salvation, Christ’s righteousness and purity are legally imparted to us. This doesn’t mean that we no longer sin, but now we have the holy Spirit who continually works within us to bring our practice into alignment with our righteous standing. Now our responsibility is to pursue purity with uncompromising devotion and submission to God.
When our hearts are pure through confession of sin and a lifestyle of obedience, our conscience is clear and our minds are spiritually sensitive and discerning. We’ll be able to filter our experiences and situations through the mind of Christ, which He has given us by His spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16). At night when we look back over the day, we’ll perceive how God guided, protected, provided, convicted and encouraged us. With awareness of God’s faithfulness, life’s uncertainties lose their power to make us fearful.
We can trust God with tomorrow since we see how He’s been with us in the past, working every situation out for our good and His glory. Instead of fear and anxiety, His peace that surpasses all human comprehension will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus no matter what awaits us in the future. When we choose this path, God is glorified, and we are blessed.
