Against the Time to Come
In this text, Paul is writing to those of us who are saved. He wrote, “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life”.
People understand laying up a good foundation against the time to come.
A child in school – develops good study habits and retains a wealth of knowledge as a foundation for higher education.
An athlete – through training develops good strength and conditioning as a foundation for tougher competition.
An employee – saves something out of every paycheck as a foundation for retirement.
A soldier – goes through basic training and development as a foundation for survival and success in war.
We need to prepare for the time to come. As we get older, as the world gets closer to seeing the return of Jesus, as trouble comes on all at some point, we need to be prepared. Here are four things that you need:
Salvation against the time to come.
Well, in the context of laying hold on eternal life, there’s a good foundation. He’s Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”.
You are not prepared for your judgment before God without salvation in Jesus Christ. None other than Christ can save you. The time to come is eternity. You must have Jesu to be with God in heaven. No sense being a skeptic trying to figure a way around receiving Jesus Christ. You’ll find that you have no foundation and no eternal life, if you reject Jesus.
God’s Provision against the time to come.
For Christians who are rich, the best way to prepare for the time to come is to give and not to hoard. And that’s what you read in the Bible. Follow Jesus’s example.
2 Cor 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”.
Wisdom against the time to come.
And the best way to be wise in the time to come is to “hear counsel and receive instruction”, Prov 19:20. Don’t waste your time with video games, reels, trivia, etc. Accumulate now as much wisdom as God gives you and you can safely absorb. You’ll need it and so will the people you’ll be able to help.
Confidence against the time to come.
The best way to not be afraid of sudden fear and the desolation of the wicked is to keep sound wisdom and discretion. See Prov 3:21-26. The Lord will not only be your Savior, but he will also be your confidence. He teaches you to put your confidence in the Lord and not in man or princes. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.