1 Corinthians 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

When you think about your future I suspect this verse doesn’t come to mind. When I listen to people speak of their future I get a vast array of visions cast into bible verses. Their vision of the future reveals much about their personal desires.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Many want to be part of this event without giving much thought as to what has to happen to even be alive to see this day. They skip right to the good stuff without sufficient knowledge to understand what they might have to endure to be there.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

I have heard some say with much bravado that they will not accept the mark of the beast without even understanding what it is and what it represents. Their focus is more on the opportunity to reign with Christ for a thousand years. They skip lightly over the beheading part as if it is a means to an end. They don’t know how they will respond for their vision is vanity.

I could go on and on with visions cast of a future where the bible speaks to specific times and events in which we might desire to see or take part in. At this time I would have you return to my opening verse as I cast a vision of your future for you.

It is your next minute, day, week, month, year and everything between right now and the end of your personal story. He wants to enrich your life now for your next great adventure which is going to play out in your relationship with Him in the now.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

It was the mid-60’s and I was an angry teenager. I did not know why I was angry. I was in fear that I was going to be like my oldest brother who had been removed from our home because of his violent temper. I didn’t want to end up like him.

In church that Sunday I made my first earnest prayer. “I don’t want to be like this.” At the alter call my hand went up, shaking, unsteady, unsure. In that moment the peace of God overcame me and my anger escaped me. That was easy. I stood in awesome wonder of how God could do this to me. I did not understand why or how, only that He did.

I was baptized and everyone treated me as one saved. They even pushed to have me elected as president of the county Baptist Youth Fellowship. Then Satan came knocking with temptations that made me question everything that had just happened. I began wondering if this was salvation at all. Had I changed?

Whenever I take on a new disciple I remember my beginnings and the first thing I ask is for their salvation story. No one was there for me in my first days to explain what was happening. I want to know how it felt for this disciple to be changed in an instant. I want to know if anyone was there for them. I want to know if there was any understanding of what it meant to be this new creature in Christ.

I don’t expect every story to be like mine but there are certain elements of every telling that will help me understand where this disciple is in their growth or if like me, back then, they were left alone when Satan attacks.

Do you have a clear understanding of your salvation story? Let’s hear it.