Drifting or On Course?

Do you know where you are headed or are you merely drifting? In Ephesians 4 Paul speaks of those who are "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." One gets the sense from this description that its possible to live life like a storm tossed sailor, but there is a better way.
Joseph had plenty of storms in his life as we have noted before, yet I think his life had direction because God had given him a sense of his future. In those dreams he had had earlier in his life, God had indicated what his future looked like. He did not know all the details, but he knew one day his brothers would be bowing down to him. Perhaps this God-given vision of the future sustained him through those blustery days in Egypt.
In Mark 13 Jesus alludes to some pretty stormy days ahead. He mentions false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, family deterioration, and the abomination of desolation. He speaks of a tribulation that is unlike anything this earth has ever known. But in the midst of this is the knowledge that God will cut these days short, that the Son of Man will come in the clouds and will gather His elect from the four corners of the world. This is a vision of the future that Jesus says should inform our daily living; that should give us direction and help us to "keep awake".
Paul seems to be motivating his readers as well by reminding them of the future. He says you know the time. He says that the night is far gone; the day is at hand. Salvation is nearer to us now that when we first believed. This vision of the future - of things to come - should inform our daily living and give us direction. In Romans 13 Paul clearly spells out that direction. He says we must wake from our sleep (similar to Jesus' words in Mark 13). He says the we must cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. He says that we should walk properly, doing away with licentious living. He says (and this is the key) that we should put on the Lord Jesus Christ thus making no provision for the flesh.
Do you have a vision of the future that is informing your daily living or are you drifting, being tossed here and there by what comes your way each day? The Christian has been given a clear vision of the future. Christ is coming in the clouds with power and great glory. He will be gathering His elect to Him and bringing in the fullness of His kingdom. Place that vision before you. Let it encourage you to stay alert, living as a child of light, daily putting on Christ, who is our life today and into eternity.