Introduction : Since we live in the present, we all pay attention to the present. As a child comes from its parents, the present comes from the past. The present is also the mother of the future. It is in the providence of God that He worked in the past for the present, and works in the present for the future.


1. Looking back on the past.
    1) Looking back on Joseph´s past.
        (1) He had to be sold by his brothers to be sent to Egypt (Ge 37:18-20).
        (2) He was a slave in the house of Potiphar for 10 years (Ge 39:9,10).
        (3) He was put in prison where the king´s prisoners were confined, because of the
            accusation of Potiphar´s wife (Ge 39:20-22).
        (4) During his three years in prison while he was waiting to meet Pharaoh, he met
            the chief cupbearer (Ge 40:14,15; 50:15-21).
    2) Looking back on my past misfortune.
        (1) My lung trouble at 17 was a terrible misery, but when I look back on it today, it
            was a tremendous, happy incident in which God worked (Ps 23:3,4; 107:20).
        (2) When I was planting the church in Daejo village in Bulgwangdong, I was very
            poor and miserable. However, looking back now, thanks to such circumstances
            I can understand the gospel of hope, The Threefold Blessing, and the theology
            of holistic salvation.
        (3) Pastoring in Seodaemun in 1964 (Ex 18:18-22; Ac 2:46; Eph 1:4; 1 Co 15:10).

2. The present hardship.
    We can look back on the past, but it is impossible to see the future. Therefore, we are
    in despair when we face hardships in the present (Ecc 8:7; 7:14).
    1) Listen to the news on the radio, the TV, and read the newspaper every day.
        (1) Parents grieve for their young beautiful daughter, a university student, who was
            cruelly murdered.
        (2) The honest and sincere face trouble, and the dishonest are rich.
        (3) Innocent children are dying from terror.
        (4) A woman is wailing for her husband who was hit by a drunken driver and died
            (Ecc 8:11; Pr 24:19,20; Ps 145:20).
    2) God works unseen in the present (Isa 45:15).
    3) God is making the future.
        (1) The principle of sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7,8; Ps 37:1-2, 10-11).
        (2) The good rewarded in the future (Gal 6:10).
        (3) The blessing of those who serve God (Mal 3:14-18; Pr 8:17,18).
        (4) The future of those who believe and obey (Ro 8:28).
        (5) We have to live by faith in the love of God in the present (2 Th 2:16,17).

3. The future that is planted at present.
    1) Dreams and faith that we have in the present create the future
        (Ge 12:1,2; Heb 6:14,15).
    2) The future of individuals and nations depends on the dreams, faith, and wise action
        that they take in the present (Joel 2:28).
    3) The vessel of dreams and faith is made through hardship (Dt 8:15,16; Jas 1:3,4).
    4) The great dream and faith that we have for heaven will help us go through the
        desert of trials and trouble (Ro 8:17,18; 2 Co 4:17,18).
    5) The right decision in the present will make the future
        (Rev 21:1-7; Heb 10:37,38; Rev 21:8; Dt 30:19,20).


Conclusion : ince God is silent and works unseen, unbelievers and mockers laugh at Him and say, "God does not exist." However, if we look back on our past with a bright mind, we can clearly see God´s work. In addition, being aware that our present lives will surely bear fruit in the future and for eternity, we should fear God, and live godly, faithful, and obedient lives.