ave you read today’s news? How relevant is the Southwest Airlines promo—“Wanna get away?” The first thing that greeted me this morning as I turned on my computer was bad news about the economy. And it’s the same in the morning and in the evening. Nearly every day. Everything that should be nailed down is coming loose.

On my monitor today was an article by a noted financial forecaster that opened with this good news:

Much of our nation’s financial structure is collapsing!

Wonderful! Just what I wanted to hear this morning. But the question calls for an answer: Whom can we trust for the truth? Pollsters? Politicians? Candidates for office? Economists? Stock gurus? My neighbor’s dog? Take your pick. The truth is: Only God knows the future. Everyone else is guessing. Or messing.

Solomon was right. In Proverbs 27:1 he said, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Talk about relevance! I would like to send this message to everyone who proclaims to have a corner on the truth about the future. I think they call these prognosticators “futurists.” Or something like that. Futurists look at their research (and whatever else that puts wind in their sails) and come up with a string of predictions that may or may not take place. They should heed Solomon’s advice.

As Christians, how should we face the unknown future? What should we tell our children? What do we tell our church? What approach should people of faith take when the news out there is bad?

In his book, Windows of Wisdom, author Stephen Olford advises that Christians should face the future from two perspectives. The first is what he calls “sensitive caution.” He warns against those who practice “boastful arrogance.” These are like the man Jesus spoke about in Luke 12:17-20. Do you remember him? He’s the guy who was hugely successful, with wealth beyond measure. His solution: “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones…and then I will say to myself…‘Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.’” God’s response was swift: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.” The other thing to avoid is what Olford calls “blissful ignorance”—failing to take responsibility for those things under our control. This person is one who assumes the status quo will always remain the status quo. Both alternatives to common sense are flawed.

Then how should we respond to bad news? What can we do to advance the Kingdom? Olford suggests:

Take Positive Action.

Both the Old and New Testaments have an answer. In Micah 6:8 is a classic call to action: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Note the action words: “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” In Mark 10:17-22 a man approached Jesus with a question about how he could obtain eternal life. After assuring Jesus that he had kept the commandments since his boyhood, the man was stunned to hear the reply of Jesus, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Again, note the action words: “go…sell…give…follow me.”

The Christian life is not a passive life, but an active one. What do we call the second gospel written by Luke? “Acts of the Apostles.” Not dreams, not ideas, not beliefs, not convictions, not hopes, but actions!

One of my favorite Christian song writers was the late Ira Stanphill. He had it right when he said:

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said,