This morning we continue with our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with an emphasis on “Focusing on God’s Finished Work”. We have been looking at the life and call of the Apostle Paul. Let’s get back to it.
A few weeks ago I shared the following passage with you where the Apostle Paul said:
“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.” (Gal 1:15,16 NLT)
When I shared that passage with you I knew all the things Paul had to go through before he was ready for his life’s assignment and all the things he had to learn before he could make such a statement. It’s easy to look back, with benefit of hindsight, and say what God prepared you for. But while you are going through it, it is much more difficult.
This morning we are going to consider Paul’s journey, the challenges he went through, how it all worked out for him in the end, and seek to glean a few golden nuggets from it.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Hindsight is 20/20.
a) Things are always much clearer looking back. It was easy for Paul to say he was called before he was born to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, AFTER he was doing it. He did not know this when he was persecuting Christians. He did not know this when he was investing years into becoming a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He did not know this when he was requesting the approval to have believers of Jesus arrested. Like Paul, I am sure you can look back today, in order to look forward with a level of clarity that you did not have when you spent countless hours doing things that were counterproductive to your life’s purpose. The good news is that God is not holding your past against you.
b) God is not holding your past mistakes over your head. So don’t judge your future by your past. Judge your future by God’s purpose.
c) While you can’t change your past, you should learn from it and allow it to inform your future. That’s the benefit of hindsight.
2. God can give you foresight so you don’t have to wait on hindsight.
a) While Paul made many mistakes early in his life, he did get to a point where he was able to hear God’s voice. At that point God was able to reveal things to Paul about his future, before they happened, so Paul did not just have to live his life based on lessons learned from past mistakes.
b) God can give you insight, wisdom and revelation to prepare you for your future. One word of divine revelation can prepare you more than years of education.
3. Before hindsight, and in the absence of foresight, you must simply learn to trust God.
a) When the event is over you can learn from hindsight. If God reveals you to His will before the event occurs you have the benefit of foresight. But when you have neither (foresight, nor hindsight), you must learn to trust God.
b) Where God has spoken He requires faith in what He said. Where He has not spoken He requires trust in His sovereignty. You must learn to trust God, even when you don’t know what is going on!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. Thank You for teaching me about Your grace, Your endless love for me, Your tireless dedication to me, and the plans You made for me before the world began. I rest in Your plans. I trust in Your goodness. I look back, I learn, and I look forward. I also thank You for insight, wisdom and revelation. You reveal things to me that were previously concealed from me, so I can be prepared for my future. I look back and I enjoy the benefit of hindsight. I look forward and as You reveal things to me, I enjoy the benefit of foresight. Where I have neither, I simply trust You Father. Even when I don’t know what my future holds, I am okay, because I know WHO holds my future and I am able to REST in Your Finished Work! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
