"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved. Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God" Amos 9:13-15.

It is realistic to be an optimist, meaning that there is true basis for optimism. It’s not that we wish and hope for better things in the future; we have solid evidence that it will be so. A time is definitely coming when there will be agricultural abundance, reconstruction, and restoration. What is described in Amos 9 is what Peter the apostle spoke about in Acts 3:21 - “the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”

In my conversations with today’s young adult generation I learn that they are generally a pessimistic generation, and understandably so. Looming environmental, economic, and political challenges appear far more daunting than there are resources to solve. Perhaps no generation is more in need of the hopeful assurance of a better future than this one. The short-term prospects in our culture are indeed concerning if not alarming, but the long-term picture is brighter and better than we can begin to imagine.

The absolute certainty of what is to come is reflected in the word, “will” - “the plowman WILL overtake the reaper … the mountains WILL drip sweet wine … the hills WILL be dissolved … I WILL restore … they WILL rebuild … they WILL also plant … I WILL also plant them … they WILL not again be rooted out.” There is no room for doubt when our Father speaks with such certainty as He does here.

The assurance of a bright future is not license to live with “our heads in the clouds,” so to speak. Future reality must be tempered with present reality, as we are instructed in Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.” We do not dismiss or deny current circumstances, but we do ever focus on the true reality to come.

Look out today with wisdom and discernment, but be sure to also look up for the true reality to come to a weary world. Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ & https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/

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