You can predict your future! Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold firmly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. The uncertainty of tomorrow Luke 12:19-20 Then I will say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night, your life will be required of you. As many might assume, whatever happens to us may be based on random selection. Many can plan for tomorrow, but there is no assurance that things will go as planned. Like in a card game, no one is in control of the cards in a card game as no one is in control of one's fate; all go by chance and probability. There is only so much we can do, and the rest is in the hands of GOD. As Solomon stated, "Time and chance happen to all."  There is no certainty about what the future might bring because no one knows what surprises tomorrow might hold. Today, we might be wise in our eyes, but when tomorrow comes, the situation might turn against us, and what wisdom is becomes foolishness. Or what is good might turn sour, what is fast might break down, or what is strong becomes weak. Tomorrow is a game changer, ushering in changes and new challenges, obsolating the old and giving birth to the new. If we are not careful, we might be caught off guard and be thrown into the ocean under the mercy of the unpredictable storm called tomorrow that can sink any ship. Today's success does not mean a successful tomorrow. When tomorrow's earthquake comes, it will level down any giant, making a joke of anyone's hard work. Therefore, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent nor the favour to the skilful. That is the reality that all have to face. The certainty in the uncertainty Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. If everyone's life is laced with uncertainty, then what certainty can we expect? As Jesus described, our precariousness is like the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow, thrown into the furnace. That means today, we can be happily swaying in the field, enjoying the breeze, and tomorrow, we will be burned in the furnace. What hope do we have in an ever-changing environment where today's field might become tomorrow's fury furnace to us? If we want to avoid such precarious moments, we must be like a tree and not grass. We cannot be any ordinary tree but a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither and who prospers in all he does. Such a tree is not affected by dry spells or storms that threaten its existence or uproot it. Beneath the tree, where no one can see, is living water, nourishing the tree from physical damage, threats or dangers. Sun or rain, nothing is going to affect the growth of the tree. It can only get bigger and stronger every day, bearing fruit —a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. The certainty Matthew 5:17-18 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Unbeknown to many, in the world of uncertainty, there is certainty, and it is found in the law. A law describes the outcome under certain conditions and predicts what will happen as long as those conditions are met. Even when heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Hence, everything in the entire universe happens according to Law—there is no such thing as chance. Every effect must have a cause, and in turn, that cause must have an effect. Thus, we have the perpetual, never-ending cycle of cause and effect. In farming terms, we reap what we sow. In scientific terms, it is the equal and opposite reaction of every action. In spiritual terms, it is karma or retribution. In idiomatic terms, it is the chickens who come home to roost. The predictability of the law Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then, you will prosper and succeed in all you do. No matter what terms we use to define certainty, the message is clear: nothing happens by random selection or chance. The uncertainty that many face is the certainty of an outcome because they are not under the protection of the law. Simply explain, those who live in obedience to the law live in certainty that things will work out as planned, while those who live in disobedience to the law live in uncertainty that nothing will work out as planned. That is to say, the law protects all who obey. Those who disobey will have to face the penalty of the law. Regardless of whether it is common law, scientific law or spiritual law, all have the same power to enforce their predicted outcome. If they cannot, then they are good practices, good to know but not necessary to follow. Therefore, whatever we do, we should not trespass any law and expect to get away. There is no getting away until every arrears is paid. No man is above the law. Galatians 3:11 For it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."  As much as we think we are free to do what we want, no one is entirely free to do so. We are free to do as we wish, but only within the boundary of the law, not just spiritual but scientific or common law. Once we cross the boundary, we walk out of the hedge of protection of the law. We have to suffer the consequences of our actions. It is similar to observing the traffic rules. If we don't, the predictable outcome will, indeed, ultimately, be hit by other vehicles. We do not need watchful eyes to enforce the punishment. The traffic system can self-regulate itself and eliminate the offender. If one gets into an accident, there are three predictable outcomes: injuries, death or license suspension. If we do not want to end up with such curses, we should be obedient and observe the law. Ignorance of the law Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." However, many things are easier said than done. No one wants to trespass the law and add curses into one's life. Many of us are like Eve, not knowing what we are doing. We are like grass that cannot go through any strong wind, unlike a tree that goes unaffected by the storm of life. The difference is that one does not know the rules of the game, while the other does. If we do not want to be like grass that is constantly tossed around by the whims and fancies of the wind until we do not know what we are doing, we must precisely understand the requirements of the law. Then, we will be like a tree drawing living water, where the storm is nothing but a breeze. However, The law is not a friend but a foe. Galatians 5:17-18 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under the law. As much as we want to obey the law and live under its protection or provision, it is beyond our human nature. Obeying the law is more complex than turning to the right or the left. It is more than stopping when the traffic light turns red and moves on when it turns green. That was the mistake the Israelites made when they were at Mount Sinai when they said, "We will do everything that the LORD has spoken." They wrongly assumed that doing everything that GOD has spoken about was as easy as moving out of Egypt with GOD parting the way and levelling all obstacles. Unbeknownst to them, that was courtship. The real test was in the marriage when they agreed to GOD's proposal. That innocent statement of 'I do' sealed their fate and everyone's fate from then on to be under the law. With their consensus, GOD issued His house's rule, the Ten Commandments. From then on, everyone who wants to be with GOD enters into a covenant relationship with Him, and those who obey will be blessed, while those who cannot will be cursed. The law condemns Romans 4:14-15 For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless, and the promise is worthless because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. In courtship, God did everything for the Israelites. After marriage, as in all marriages, the Israelites had to DIY. Therefore, in the Book of Numbers, chapter 14, the Israelites wanted to divorce God because they did not want to DIY with the giants. The treatments, figuratively speaking, before marriage were not the same after marriage. GOD's purpose in His law is, unlike other laws, to reveal our sins. The law was given to prove otherwise to what the Israelites thought, 'We will do everything that the LORD has spoken'. We cannot do what GOD wants because of our fallen nature. The law is to catch our weaknesses and prove our need for GOD. As Jesus commented, apart from Him, we can do nothing. Recalibration John 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing. Despite our best efforts, nothing will go as planned because we are not the game masters. Only GOD is. We are only game players. As long as we are not the game masters, we cannot control the game. Therefore, our destiny is in the hand of He who holds it. That is that much we can do to ensure success. We like kites; if the wind does not pick us up to soar through the sky, we are nothing but some beautifully crafted paper. Even if we are not the game masters, GOD is good because He plays by His rules. As long as we act according to His rules, against our fallen nature, whatever we do will be according to His Word. That is the certainty of our future according to GOD's Word. Conclusion: Matthew 7:17-18 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. If we want to be successful in all that we do, we cannot be the lords of our lives. We cannot listen to ourselves and be wise in our eyes. Instead, we must be wary of our fallen nature, which will lead us away from the way of GOD and guide us to an aimless life. Today, if we look within and are unhappy with ourselves and what we are doing, then we are guided not by the Word but by our fallen nature. The fruit of our decision will never lie. If it is from GOD, it will be a good fruit. If not, it will be a rotten fruit. If we are not getting the result that we want, we must go back to GOD's Word and reexamine our lives. Prayer and positive proclamation will not make what is wrong right. Ignorance is not excusable. GOD rules everything according to His Book. As long as we do everything according to the Book, our lives are as predictable as written in the Book. GOD will have to act according to His Word, and we can predict the outcome as promised. Prayer: Thank you, GOD, for your Word. That is my trust and strength. Nothing will be done out of the context of your Word. No one can stand against your Word or override it. Help me keep it in my heart that I may not sin against You. Instead, I can predict my future according to Your Word. Amen.

Sarah Hirini ONZM (Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) is a finalist in the New Zealander of the Year award 🖤 We're inspired by Sarah's leadership, fierce competitiveness, and all she has achieved on and off the field. Read more: https://t.co/DsgfJYKrSg https://t.co/BCXsXW6dju