Ignorance Of Futurity

Christoph Sturm | Added: Apr 15, 2026 | Category: Theology

If it is our fate to be ignorant to future events, we must not merely trace the cause to the narrow and limited faculties of the soul in its present state of existence, but we must go further, till we arrive at the Creator Himself, whose will and pleasure it is that the knowledge of futurity should be denied us. He knew the strength of man, and the extent of knowledge his imperfect nature was capable of bearing. The knowledge of futurity, like the splendour of the noonday sun, could not be steadily contemplated; it would be fatal to the happiness of man, and dangerous to his virtue. Supposing that the future events of our life marked a bright and prosperous tract; whilst we viewed this at a distance, and anticipated that happiness which we knew certainly awaited us, our present enjoyment would cease, we should no longer be contented and cheerful, but wait with impatient anxiety for those blessings which were held up to our view. But on the contrary, was the prospect of future contingencies gloomy and marked by affliction and sufferings, the moment we read our fate, our happiness would be no more; the days which hitherto had been passed in peace and tranquillity would now rise in sorrow and depart in gloom. With a known evil impending over our heads, each morning bringing us nearer to the dread moment, we should live in hopeless misery, the prey of sorrow and despair, insensible of all the blessings around us. How infinitely merciful and wise then is that God who has shrouded futurity in darkness, gradually unfolding the veil as the events occur; so that we are never at once overwhelmed by the torrent of adversity, nor confounded by the blaze of certain prosperity! Let us then never suffer ourselves to be disappointed by the delusive hopes of happiness, nor be rendered miserable and wretched by feeling the weight of misfortunes before they arrive. Let us rather thank the almighty that our ignorance of futurity saves us from many a pang of inquietude, and delivers us from many a throb of anxious dread and fearful despondency. If we feel assured of the grace of God through the meditation of Christ, we have just reason to hope that futurity will unfold to us with joy and gladness; and as there is a just and gracious God, who orders and directs the universe, who knows all the events of our lives, and before whose view is continually present the circle of eternity; we may with safety, when we lie down to sleep, commend ourselves to His care, undisturbed as to what may happen during the night; and when the morning sun summons us to our duties, we may trust ourselves in His protection, without anxiety for the events which are to befall us during the day. And in the hour of trial, when dangers threaten and destruction seems to impend, let us still remember the goodness of God, and repose upon His protecting arm, in perfect assurance that whatever happens is for our good.

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