I woke up this morning and checked my investment portfolio. It’s something I do as often as I can to gain insight about my holdings. The data reveals to me the same thing every day: no change in the bottom line, although the conveyance of that information varies from day to day—actually from moment to moment.
You see, the only thing in my portfolio are futures contracts, a roller coaster of an investment plan — most financial planners would advise me against trading on speculation or leverage of commodities not even in the stream, much less placing all of my assets in that category.
Sometimes my life seems to resemble the chaos of speculative market ventures. Words that have meant one thing for centuries have taken on different meanings in this era of deconstruction and reinterpretation of truth. Hearts that were once connected by kindred aspirations have been divided over protectionism, suspicion, and marginalization.
When did that sin become a virtue? Why would someone betray me like this? What kind of future will my children inherit?
Some days it seems like nothing is secure anymore, no one can be relied upon. Subsequently, my heart portfolio is full of risky schemes: how I want to react and behave in light of what the market looks like.
But my daily review of the plan reminds me Who was the one who bought those futures and Who holds their security in his hands.
Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. (Psalm 37:37)
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17-18)
My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 24:13-14)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23)
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:32-35)
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3-4)
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
With the most reliable payment method on the planet, the best planner of all time deposited the very portion needed to secure a safe and bountiful future for me.
Jesus, my Savior, lived a sinless life on my behalf. Despite flimsy affection and a lifeless will on my part, the Father dispensed faith to me, establishing a solid investment and an unshakeable bottom line. A range of emotions in response to the cascade of human events might erupt in the course of a day to unsettle my heart, but the account remains secure. My eternal retirement is based on his work, his investment, not mine.
No disruption in the transaction, no corruption by the players, no market panic to cause a crash.
My futures are secure.
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