By Elmer Warkentin
Ever feel really rich? I did, at least once – on my morning walk here in Guelph. I had been feasting on one of Paul’s radical claims during my quiet time: “Everything belongs to you . . ., the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.” (I Cor. 3:21-23). As I approached the CIBC bank it hit me, “That’s my bank!” I haven’t convinced them yet.
Just recently as I repeated this verse in my exercise of claiming God’s promises of provision I suddenly realized that this promise is not all inclusive. The past is not mentioned – it’s not part of my possessions. It’s gone. I own the present and the future, not what’s been. It reminds me of the airport runway incident. When we lived up in northern Alberta we had a friend, Hank, who owned a small Cessna. Every once in a while we’d go on joy rides. Fun! One day I questioned Hank, “Why do you go all the way to the beginning of the runway for take-off when you know that you will only need about a third of it before you lift off?” Hank’s ready response was that in flight school they were taught: runway behind you is of no use to you.
We learn from recounting the past, from successes and failures. The Old Testament writers devote a lot of script to recounting the past of God’s people, including their failures and successes, and of God’s interventions in history. But we own only the present and the future. That’s what we are stewards of; that’s where we can impact our world.
In our work with internationals who are learning English and culture from us we can’t afford to dwell on past successes or failures. What’s done is done – water under the bridge. Isn’t it exciting to know that God has committed the present and the future to us; and in a sense the present and the future of those whom he entrusts to us?
I’m 79, virtually a twin of Joe Biden. My present and future look very different from his. Instead of the fate of a good part of the world at my fingertips, I plan to have a class of advanced English students under my influence at least once a week during this coming year. They come from all over the world. They will impact their world in various places and ways. In some measure their present and future are mine. And, certainly, Christ’s and God’s. I really don’t need CIBC.