A Future?: CJ Robbins

Proverbs 23:17-18

“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.”

Life has been discouraging recently. Seems like many of the things I valued in my life have begun to crumble. People, for various reasons, have left my life, left my community, betrayed my trust. I see people walking away from the Church, and it saddens me. I’ve felt alone, out of control. When all of it was too much, when I locked myself in a small room with a Bible and cried (on a few different occasions), I was given an answer: “Surely there is a future.” Now how about that? Isn’t it incredible?! Takes a while to accept, takes a while to understand. In fact, I’d argue that we won’t understand this statement fully, not in this life at least. But in this moment, let’s focus on one aspect of it.: God has promised a future. I can trust in that. 

Within this world there are so many things, many good things even. In the end though, they falter. They cannot be guaranteed. Is that why we seek comfortable lives, full of excess so that we do not have to imagine we will ever be in need again? Can we achieve that dream? I don’t think so. Not truly. Getting past only the present concern only leads to another hiding behind it, something intrinsic to human life. Comfort can never be a sure thing, success is never guaranteed. And if I did have these things, I would not be satisfied then. When I look for assurance, the only thing I know will happen, and coincidentally the only thing that I know will satisfy me, is a future with Christ.

This, this fact that “Surely there is a future,” has not sunk in yet. I’m still learning, every day, what it means, because it means that I don’t have to be good enough. I don’t have to find out how to be happy, or how to stay happy. I don’t have to live this life alone. However, yet another part of the future has been sitting on my heart recently. The humility of the fact that no matter what happens in this current life, the ending is set. There will be a resurrection, an eternal life. All of the loss, all of my failures, do not change that I am a part of that. I want others to be a part of that. If I see someone walk away from the gift, it hurts, and mourning is necessary. But it isn’t the end. There will be others where the seed grows and multiplies a hundred-fold. There is so much potential in one person! A hundred-fold! And we see in Jesus’ ministry that no one can be excluded. Could it even be the one I just saw turn their back on the Church? Perhaps. We are not guaranteed to see the harvest. I hope to be surprised by the people standing next to me in heaven. 

So, while I’m still learning what that future means for me, I wanted to share what I have learned so far: I have learned that it does not end with this. It does not end with today. Isn’t that loving of our God, to offer more than this? We do not have to be satisfied here; we are simply to be content till the future.

CJ Robbins is a junior at LA Tech majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Since becoming a member of The Wesley last school year, CJ has blessed this community with his easygoing presence, willingness to serve, and passion for the Word of God. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with people at The Wesley, playing ping pong, going to the gym, and spending time outdoors. He is also a member of this year’s Discipleship Team. We’re so grateful for him and look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in his life!