God of the Coming Years

God of the coming years, through paths unknown
We follow Thee . . .

—Hugh T. Kerr

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8

When Abraham was seventy–five years of age, God called him from his home in Ur of the Chaldees to another place. His entire life became movement from one place to another—from Ur to Haran, to Shechem, to Bethel to Egypt, to the Negev, to Hebron. “By faith Abraham . . . obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Rootless, homeless, “going . . . and not knowing.” This was the story of Abraham’s life.

Age brings change, uncertainty and adjustment. It means transition from a familiar past to an uncertain future. It is movement from a family home, to a smaller place, to a daughter’s home, to a retirement community, to a nursing home—the “last resort,” as a friend of mine says. Sociologist Paul Tournier describes the experience as being “in between,” like a trapeze artist suspended in mid–air.

So we, like Abraham, pass “through paths unknown,” making our way from one place to another, always traveling: “going . . . and not knowing.”

But we can be at home in every place we dwell, for our safekeeping lies not in the place, but in God himself. We dwell in the shelter of the Most High; we rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1).

It’s noteworthy that Abraham raised a rough–hewn altar in every place he lived. There, we’re told, he “called on the name of the Lord”—he bowed his heart in worship.

Worship is the way we get our minds off our circumstances and our selves and give our full attention to God. There, in his presence, under his wings, we find refuge; the eternal God becomes our dwelling place (Psalm 90:1).

Peter was told, “When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will . . . lead you where you do not want to go.” Nevertheless, Jesus called to him, “Follow me!”

Others may “choose” our habitation, but it is our sovereign Lord who makes these choices for us—leading us from one place to another—and He will be our companion and friend ‘til traveling days are o’er and we reach our heart’s true home. He will turn each dreary dwelling place into a house of grace in which we can shed the light of God’s loving kindness on other travelers—“light in His light to be” (Jesse Penn–Lewis).

God of the coming years, through paths unknown
We follow Thee . . .