Knowing the Future
by Charles R. Swindoll

James 4

Quick now, what woman in recent years not only won the prestigious "Woman of the World" award but was named the "Most Admired Woman" in the world for three consecutive years? Former First Lady Barbara Bush or perhaps Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor? Maybe Mrs. Thatcher of Great Britain? All wrong.

She was the world's leading astrologer and "voice of prophecy"—none other than Jeanne Dixon. Among other unsolicited mailing lists, I'm on the list of the Franklin Mint, and a mailing was timed perfectly—as the last century drew to a close. When all of us were thinking about—what else? The future.

The offer? Jeanne Dixon's "Crystal Ball—an heirloom work of art to enhance your home and your future." In Ms. Dixon's own words, "Behold the revelation of your destiny." What was once practiced behind closed doors and considered part hoax and part superstitious hocus-pocus is now big-time business.

But if you really desire to "behold the revelation of your destiny," stay away from "exquisite" crystal balls and sophisticated "astrological" software. Getting involved with all that will not only empty your purse, it will mess up your head.

Remember, the enemy of our souls has a field day when we take the restraints off our curiosity and plunge full-bore into the so-called mystical world. Substitute the word "demonic" for "mystical," and you won't be nearly so tempted.

If our God had wanted us to gaze into our own crystal ball, He would never have prompted James to write: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that'" (James 4:13–15).

I want to walk with God by faith now and leave the future completely in His capable hands.

Our problem is not needing to know the truth about tomorrow; 
it's needing to live the truth we know today.

 More than knowing about tomorrow, we need to live the truth we know today. —Chuck Swindoll Tweet This

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

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