Daily decisions require that we place our confidence in someone—or something. Having to decide which is the most beneficial or worthy can be difficult. It all comes down to what or whom we place our faith in.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
End Times Confidence
When we were teenagers, my twin sister and I took the bus to school and back. Every afternoon our dog, Queenie, sat waiting for us at the end of the driveway. She knew we’d meet her there. Now, that’s confidence!
People gain confidence in others as they get to know them. Kids, for instance, learn through experience to rely on their parents for food, clothing, shelter, and love. We adults can be reasonably assured that the money we deposit in our bank will remain safe. We can even feel safe driving over most bridges because we know they’re well-constructed and have safely held traffic for years.
But there are IFs involved. IF a mother gets sick, she may not have dinner on the table when expected. IF our identity is stolen, we may lose the money we have in the bank. IF an earthquake happens, the bridge may become unsafe to drive on. Even Queenie didn’t know that if the bus broke down or if a storm blew in, my sister and I would be late coming home from school.
The nice thing about God is that He gives us His IFs up front in His Word. As we get to know Him, our confidence and trust grow in His promises.
The IFs are clear. IF we obey God (1 John 2:3), IF we remain separate from the things of the world (1 John 2:15-16), IF we love others as God loves us (1 John 4:11), then we can have “confidence on the day of judgment.” (1 John 4:17)
How far does our confidence in God reach? Like Queenie, waiting for my sister and me at the end of the driveway, we can wait patiently for God, assured of His presence and help. Like Queenie, happy to see us, we can meet God with joy, knowing He loves us. We can be confident in Him, even though we don’t know the IFs of the future.
Lord, give us the desire and will to know You better through Your Word and Spirit. We want our confidence in You to grow as we look toward the day of judgment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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