Do you ever wonder how God could choose the men we refer to as the patriarchs? These were the ones who would pave the path leading to the birth of Jesus. The only means of redemption for humanity. As you read their stories this week, you would recognize they were sinners. Many times, their choices were foolish. Lives filled with doubt, sorrow, bad choices, and limited faith at times. How did they gain the power to overcome their selfish wills and desires? I dare to propose that true willpower to do that which is right comes by grace? Faith is the catalyst that allows us to not only see the grace of our past, but also to cling to today’s grace and future grace. God is the power they and we need to overcome.
Were it not for grace not even one of these human beings could have reached the heights they needed to succeed. And without God’s Power to overcome their own frailties, they could never have lead the path to display the Glory of God. Actually it was more in spite of them, God won the victory. Just as in spite of all our bumbling, fumbling down here; through grace God can use our faith to display His Glory. It is His Power in us that can altar our will power to do all that He plans. Sometimes He even uses our failures to accomplish His greatest acts of Glory. That I find even more amazing.
FAITH IN FUTURE GRACE
When we look at grace and consider all that it is, we tend to grasp hold on grace that has already been. Yet, the grace of God engulfs all—past, present, and future. Past grace looks all the way to the cross where Jesus died for my sins. It also sees all the times that God so graciously sustained me through hard times. And each moment when He has displayed Himself to me through grace, building my faith. Showing me how I can trust in Him.
Present grace is this very moment in time. Whether it be the breath I take or the strength to say no to despair at right now. Faith in present grace is the power to make the right choice now. Or to say something good or kind right this minute to lift a fallen one up.
Faith in future grace, takes all that and reaches forward trusting that God will accomplish all that He has planned in the world and in my life. That is the faith that provides us flowing fountains of hope everlasting.
Hebrews 11:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith at the Dawn of History
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11 NKJV
A Faith that Looks Forward to Future Grace
Each looked forward. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all looked forward in faith toward the promises of God.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11 (NKJV)
But it goes deeper than that. Because God step by step had grown Abraham’s faith throughout the years, Abraham was will to offer up Isaac on the altar. Believing God would perform a miracle, Abraham trusted God enough to obey even if he did not understand.
Strength to Obey because of the Power of God in us.
Note Paul’s prayer to the believers in Ephesus whom he referred to already as Saints, trusting in the Future Grace of God to finish the work He began in these believers.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1 (NKJV)
Mighty Power of God to Transform our Heart
Breaking this down. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ in other words, the Father of glory. Let Him give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. As He reveals Himself to us through His actions and His words, we gain understanding and hope through faith in His future grace promised to us. Therefore, the same power with which He raised Jesus from the dead He releases in us so we might have the will power needed to fulfill every good work He has planned for us to accomplish in spite of our own frailties and weaknesses. He is the power in us to do this.
Hope in Future Grace
13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:
14 “I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”[c]
15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. Hebrews 6:13-20 NLT
Our hope is anchored in God. He has promised and He will accomplish all that He has planned. He is the power we need to overcome every obstacle our own hearts place in the way to have the willpower to exceedingly display the Glory of God to the world. I cannot on my own do this. Only He can in His power accomplish this. Today and every day for the rest of my life and yours.
A Prayer of Faith in Future Grace
Pray this for yourself and for others.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13 (NKJV)
He is the power. Therefore, He is the hope in future grace because we can trust Him. He is the one who grows up our faith sometimes through trials. Let us keep our eyes always on Him. Growing in Him through His word, through prayer, and through seeking Him. He will complete the work He began in you. Let a little while and we shall see Him in all His glory. What a day that will be. Until then, let us hold fast our faith in future grace by His power working in us.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
Previous
DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com
[1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, (New York: HarperCollins, 1952), 47-48
[1] https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-235/the-origin-of-evil