We’re hooked on the future. At least with knowing it, that is. Evangelicals love to find the prophetic significance of eclipses, blood moons, and, unless I miss my bet, before long we’ll start hearing about Iranian war drones in the Bible (the locusts of Joel chapter 1? Or Revelation chapter 9?).
Don’t get me wrong. I freely recognize, even celebrate, the predictive prophecies of scripture. The thing that irritates me is the fascination with which we pore over obscure biblical details, assign interpretations, and then walk away with the exhilaration of having solved a word search puzzle.
Something is obviously missing from that picture. We could do better.
But anyway, it’s not just us. The non-religious are hooked on knowing the future, too. After 9/11, there was so much speculation about Nostradamus that one would think he was some kind of thirteenth apostle. As far as I can tell, though, the fudged predictions of a French astrologer haven’t ignited much change in living.
And while we’re on the subject, Palmistry shops have become almost as common as Taco Bell locations. I used to pass a string of them in a certain part of the city. Gone are the days when such services were only offered at carnivals, by ladies wearing head wraps and named Madam so-and-so. Now the person who wants to read your tarot cards might be dressed business casual and has a high-level degree.
They’ll tell you stuff about yourself you already know (why did you have to pay them for that information?) and then take some stabs at your future (they’ll be just correct enough through guessing, or demonic assistance, to lure you back). The only info you’re guaranteed not to get is a winning lotto number.
Meanwhile, the vague predictions given will hardly represent anything a person could build his or her life on. I believe that is what we should really want to know about the future—not curiosities, or hot stock tips. Not any pedantic advice at all.
I came across a story of two men meeting for the first time. One was a fortune teller. The other (unbeknownst to him) was a dedicated Christian. “I would like to tell your fortune,” the first man told the second one.
“How about I tell your future, instead,” the Christian replied. “Then you’ll know what possibilities lie in front of you. I don’t use cards or a ball, though. I use a book.” And with that, he brought the intrigued man’s attention to John 3:36:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on John Myer
Featured Image by Monfocus from Pixabay
