Written For The Future
There are many out there who would claim that the Bible has some good teachings but is ultimately out of date and irrelevant for today. These individuals believe that the Bible was written for believers in the past but does not hold much for them now. How could a book written thousands of years ago be written for individuals today? Well, allow me to show you just two examples that proves that God had us future believers in mind even all those years ago.
First, probably the most well known verse of the two that I am going to discuss. John 19:26-27.
“26 So when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”
So here we have Jesus, nailed to the cross and in pain; and yet His instinct is to ensure that His mother is provided for. You see, at this time Mary was a widower and her other children did not come to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was the Messiah until after His death. So Jesus took measures to ensure that she would be provided for in the future, by telling John to bring her into his household and treat her as his own mother. Even accomplishing the will of the Father, Jesus took steps to ensure that His mother would be taken care of in the future. If this was the actions of Jesus on the cross, what makes you think that He does not have the desire to care for those who believe in Him now?
Second, I ask that you look at the beginning of the book of Galatians.
“3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.“
Galatians 1:3-5
Galatians is a wonderful book filled with encouragement to believers to stay true to the faith, however, did you notice one thing? It is such a simple word that it is often overlooked in the message that Jesus gave Himself for our sins. The word that I am talking about is “present”. Look at verse 4 again, “4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”. This book which discusses topics such as believing the true gospel, that we are justified by faith, shows what the fruit of the Spirit is, and how to restore someone who has walked away from the faith; was written with the present age in mind! Paul, through the Holy Spirit, wrote this book not only for the believers in Galatia but also for those living today and those who will come. The book of Galatians was written to show believers that we are free in Christ, not by our own works, but by the work that He did on the cross!
So the next time you feel as if the Bible only offers advice, or simply holds no relevance to current times, I ask that you remember this. Remember that before Jesus said that His work was completed, He ensured that his mother would be provided for. Remember that the Bible was written for the present age, and so it is under no time constraint. God cared for His children then and He cares for His children now.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex