The Best Is Yet to Come (Friday Devotional)

 

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 3:22-23

For years now, a sinister notion has solidified in the cultural consciousness: our best days are behind us. We see it in sports, where today’s stars are immediately contrasted with predecessors from decades prior—LeBron is no Jordan!!!—instead of appreciated in their time. We see it in pop culture, where Hollywood’s brightest idea seems to be perpetually rebooting shows from the 1970s. We see it in our politics, where every national leader of consequence—from either party—is a septuagenarian trying to bring back the good old days. We all seem to have resignedly accepted the idea that we are a people in decline, that our most invaluable ideals and institutions have passed their expiration date.

For those whose faith is in the things of this world, it’s an understandable outlook. Recession looms, war threatens, and decadence reigns. If prosperity, power, and pleasure are the coins of the realm, then we are indeed in a precarious moment.

But for those whose faith is in Jesus, tomorrow is never really a threat. It is finished. The tomb is empty. God is making all things new. In the light of such eternal truths, we see that our present trials pale before the glory of the risen King.

So the challenge before you is to remember what matters most—not your earthly priorities, but your heavenly calling. Seek justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God. When you do, when heaven’s concerns overrule earth’s, the burden of momentary troubles gives way to the weight of glory.

In a death-obsessed world, it’s easy to look around and only see what’s crumbling. But Christians are resurrection people, and because he lives, we can face tomorrow. For whatever today has in store, make no mistake, the best is yet to come.