Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
This passage of scripture should be of great comfort to all true believers, for there is nothing more assuring than to understand that God both knows and holds the future in His hands. One of our greatest fears as human beings is of that of the unknown, and many people who have not had an experience with God become perturbed and greatly troubled, because of a lack of knowledge of future events. This then causes some of them to act irrationally, on the spur of the moment, and to make decisions that they often greatly regret in later life. Case in point is the great recession of recent years in which the stock market dropped precipitously, sending many investors into extreme fear and panic mode, and thus moving them to sell their stocks and investment holdings at basement bargain prices.
This erratic action on the part of millions was the direct result of not knowing God who holds the future, and ignorance of the word He has written for our instruction in every area of life, including our finances. As a general rule of thumb, the route that is taken by the world at large is often found to be quite opposite to what the word of God says, and for this reason, those who habitually tend to go with the popular flow, and who are prone to trust in financial advisers who are not guided by the Holy Spirit, will make serious mistakes both in spiritual things, and also in investments, or things that are temporal in nature.
The Bible warns us of a cataclysmic encounter between the forces of good and evil in the last days of earth's history, but according to the sacred word, certain developments must take place before this occurs. Furthermore, the Bible specifically states that the world will be in a state of prosperity and carnal security, when suddenly the probation of mankind will be closed, and because of the things God has revealed through His singular ability to see the future, those students of the word who follow where God leads would not have sold their investments at rock bottom prices because of the panic that was triggered by the recent financial slump. Let's read:
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Christians are to rest in the assurance of God's great love, and we are also to trust in His ability to see and control future events, so that we are not motivated by secular minds, to act in irrational ways, or to make hasty ill-advised moves. In the fulness of time, every promise and every prophecy will be fulfilled in due season, and therefore we are not worry ourselves out of God's hands, because we know He holds the future. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us the critically important lesson of waiting upon God in all things, and if we do, we will find that many unnecessary mistakes and bad decisions can be avoided simply by resting in His love. Let's read:
Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!