"You Do Not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow!"

Thank God for hiding the future!
(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

There is no more gracious provision for 

our happiness, than what is contained 

in that brief saying of Scripture, 

"You do not know what will happen 
tomorrow!" James 4:14

If we knew in full, in this grief-stricken 
world, all that would befall us in the future--
how sad would existence be! 

It would leave even prosperity without 
a note of gladness; for the certainty 
of losing our blessings, would rob us of 
all their enjoyment while we retained them. 
And thus moments of unbounded pleasure, 
would be clouded with the dark characters 
of anticipated sorrow.

How would the mother's joy be marred, 
as the object of her tender solicitude 
and affection was sporting by her side, 
or as she hung over the infant cradle--
if she could pry with certainty into 
the future, and read the mournful 
sequel of that little history--
the lingering sickness, the early grave, 
the blighted hopes, the desolated 
household, the broken heart. 

To know the future, would convert 
the few brief years of possession 
of her blessing, into consecutive 
hours of agony--
the consciousness and foreknowledge 
that every moment was drawing 
nearer the fatal one--
sitting by Time's sand-glass 
and marking grain by grain, 
as they dropped and fell, until 
the last grain of the diminishing 
heap announced, "The long-dreaded 
hour has arrived!" 

But, thank GOD that the future is veiled! 

The storm and coming wreck are 
concealed, in order that the calm of 
the present waveless sea may be enjoyed.

Yes, we again say, 
thank God for hiding the future, 
and allowing us only to be conversant 
with the joys and sorrows of today.

"You do not know what will happen 
tomorrow!" James 4:14

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GraceGems has published another precious 31 day devotional by John MacDuff,
"THE MIND OF JESUS".