Anticipation

I remember this particular Heinz ketchup commercial from 1979 where the song “Anticipation” was sang and the ketchup bottle was turned up and the commercial was celebrating the thick, rich ketchup that would FINALLY come from the bottle of ketchup. Anticipation is actually a “hopeful” word. It brings to mind the “possible, probable and even predictable”. It also implies taking action in preparation of something that is about to happen. The Prophet Isaiah was speaking in “anticipation” of the Son of God coming. Check this out…

‘Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

    my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

    and he will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out,

    or raise his voice in the streets.

3 A bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

4     he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth.

    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.’

5 This is what God the Lord says –

the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,

    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

    who gives breath to its people,

    and life to those who walk on it:

6 ‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;

    I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you and will make you

    to be a covenant for the people

    and a light for the Gentiles,

7 to open eyes that are blind,

    to free captives from prison

    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8 ‘I am the Lord; that is my name!

    I will not yield my glory to another

    or my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have taken place,

    and new things I declare;

before they spring into being

    I announce them to you.’ (Isaiah 42:1-9 NIV)

 

I catch myself wondering about the future sometimes. What does the future for my family look like? What does my older years look like? I can prepare in great detail for my future and then something catastrophic like a car accident or the death of a loved one send my plans reeling. The truth is, I have very little control over what actually will happen. I can have 100% control over my response or my reaction. I am determined to trust the Lord with my future – whatever it becomes. I want to concentrate on being a faithful follower of the Lord. I do seek wisdom and guidance from Him for the future. He knows the future. He holds the future. I’m in good hands if I trust Him with the future. My anticipation about my future and the next 10 or 20 years involves me continuing to trust Him with the day-to-day events of my life as well as the big, “direction changing” events. Wherever I go and whatever I become in this life, I want to be a follower of the Lord through it all.

Pressing On!

Dwayne