Looking To The Future
In Genesis and Matthew, we see Jacob and Jesus looking to the future. It is to be a future of blessing. For both, death was near. the future, however, was life. In Jacob's time, the expectation concerned an earthly land - "God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers" (Genesis 48:21). In Christ, our expectation concerns a heavenly land - "the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done" (Matthew 16:27). In Proverbs 3:1-2, we read, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity." While earthly prosperity is a gift of God for which we must be grateful, the greatest gift of God is heavenly - "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).