Today, reply is on the anchors, gifts and tools Christian believers receive for facing the future without fear. The present process of GOD for salvation continues to be one of engaging divinity in ongoing relationship, openly fulfilling prophecy, and sharing sacred knowledge (we say, revelation) that is to provide comfort, rather than a process for maintaining mystery, secrecy, and hidden truth. While prophecy and revelation may be thought of as “forward-looking,” their importance is not the foretelling of events or predicting the future so much as directing the awareness of created beings and living creatures to apprehend the character, makeup, and substances who collectively are divine fullness (we say, the GODhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Wise Cracker” (Level 7 with 167,572 points, a member since November 12, 2013) posted the following:
Is the only way to keep from fearing the future to not look into the future and stay in the NOW?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1st Corinthians 15: 51-58, King James Version (KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Secular History, Sacred Revelation? (01/11/2018); No Fear In Love? (05/17/2017); Time and Sacred Events? (03/30/2017); The People You Meet? (08/11/2016); Correct Awe and Respect (02/04/2016); The Endtime and Fear? (01/14/2015); Afraid of Eternal Life? (10/30/2013); Why Bother to Read? (10/31/2013)
“Wise Cracker”, for mature Christian believers “the future” has content, form, presence, quality, and value as the expression of grace, divine prerogative, eternal purpose, and the sovereign will of GOD. The future pertains more to the existence of divinity, than to the existence of time and space. Christians all begin as sinners who willingly turn away (we say, repent) from lives of error and wickedness, and turn to GOD to be part of the new creation through Jesus Christ. Thereby, sinners become joined to GOD as divine offspring and heirs through various operations carried out by the Lord and by the Holy Spirit. Without knowing all the details, or having predictions of all that will occur, one enters into new relationships established through GOD that all turn a believer to hope, joy, life, and love, not to anger, bitterness, confusion, and darkness.
While still on the earth, “developing believers” are to prepare to exist as eternal, immortal companions of Deity. Those “born again” must “grow up again” and become mature (ripe for harvest; fit to be gathered up by the Lord when he returns). The many events of sacred gathering and joining include divine adoption to become sons and daughters of GOD; answering as a partner in divine covenant; becoming confirmed as a full member of the church (the body of Christ); holy matrimony wherein two become “one flesh,” and GOD is the other; rebirth depicted by water baptism (death and burial of ones inborn spirit with its resurrection from the dead having divine DNA, so to speak); and receiving the blood and body of Jesus through the emblems of bread and wine (we say, Communion; the Lord’s Supper).
When challenged by fear, guilt, regret, or shame, many rely on their own authority, their own personal power, and the strength of their own will (willpower) to overcome. For Christians, the facing of fear is accomplished primarily as we receive and rely on inseparable aspects of spirit substance from the makeup of GOD. Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, personhood, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The operations and workings of fear are blocked out by focusing on sacred knowledge (instead of secular knowledge), on the assurances, proclamations, and promises of GOD as well as by commitment, prophecy, holy boldness (certainty and confidence to enter the presence of divinity for judgment), and discernment (the ability to recognize and respond whenever invisible divinity is present).
Consider the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Jeremiah 29: 11-13, King James Version (KJV): 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(2.) Isaiah 41: 10, KJV: 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
(3.) James 4: 13-17, KJV: 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
(4.) Matthew 6: 31-34, KJV: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) 1st John 4: 16-18, KJV: 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
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