The future in exchange for the present?

I'm finding myself at a funny place in life. Some call it a time of transition. Some call it an in-between time. I call it a pain. I'm not where I was, locked into classes and a program. That's done and the next program and degree, if there is to be a next is a few months away. Independent Greek lessons for me, haha! I'm not currently in a church, that's also a few months off. So, what I guess I'm saying is that everything that seems of interest is off on the horizon. Does that mean that I should whittle away my time now? Do I get into survival mode today in order to prepare for a future that entails the unknown for my family and I?
The future holds I don't know what, I don't really know where or how it's going to be paid for. In other words, there is more up in the air than there is on the ground, at least when viewed practically and logistically. Yet, why should I pine away for that future? Perhaps it is the expectation of that next challenge. Perhaps it is the acknowledgment of my penchant for loving new challenges and seeing who God's plan for my life jibes with my current surroundings. Whatever it may be, I am finding myself quite willing to exchange my present for my future. But is that right?
I believe that many Christians live their lives in that same mode of future-longing. They become so focused on the future promise of heaven that their present life becomes something that is loathsome. The phrase for this kind of thinking is "being so heavenly-minded that they are of no earthly good." Now, understand, I believe that there is nothing wrong with being captivated with the thought of our future glory in the eternal presence of our Lord and Savior, at least for those who have made the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.
The future
Have you ever noticed that in some circles, the future is so much more appealing to folks that their present sort of slides into a type of shadow dance with reality? I think this is dangerous and in fact is a squandering of the blessed life that we are granted daily from the Father. So, in a way, I guess I am answering my own question. i know in my heart that every day holds something blessed and important. Perhaps it is because of the lingering questions that my focus has been so far off lately. But whatever the reason for that is, I know that I need to focus on what is here right now.
We must know that first, Christ told us plainly that we should not be "worried" about the future because today has enough problems of its own for us. I believe he is telling us to focus upon the life that we have instead of the life we want or do not have as of yet. this doesn't mean we shouldn't plan ahead, it means that we shouldn't be so caught up in that which lies ahead that we spoil the precious and irreplaceable gift of today.
The rapture dilemma
On a related topic, I believe that at times, there is too much emphasis that is placed on eschatology, that is the study of the end times. We get so caught up in interpretations of prophecy that we tend to filter those prophecies only through present and the foreseeable future, at least as how it pertains to us here in America. Yet is that even the purpose of prophecy? Or is it there to continue the story of God's protection and love for his chosen people, the Israelites? Yeah, talking about our over-enamoration with a certain series of books, that in my opinion, might be better off left behind. Short of them bringing people into a current relationship with Jesus Christ - which is always of worth, and I think the overriding concept of the series, it must be recognized that the vast majority of it relies on both fictional events and certain and quite modern interpretations of Biblical passages that would have been viewed by the early church as absurd. Even the preoccupation upon a rapture helps to develop a type of bail-out mentality. I mean, the rapture is such a modern phenomenon - an 18th century Darbian interpretation. yet, if I were to google the word "rapture", I would find over 10 million instances of the word on the web. That's astounding!
Now, I'm not trying to step on any toes or to start needless debates. I believe that this issue is one of interpretation. I take Jesus at his word when he said that he would come again. I just don't personally believe that any texts conclusively prove the existence of both a rapture and a return. One event rather than two. But once again, to me, this is not an important battle. I talked about this last week under the post of "Choosing our battles."
The Point
My point is that we are given the responsibility of enjoying and maximizing our present lives. We are going to be accountable for what has and is currently being done, rather than what is to come. This means my eyes should be focused on what is around me, who is around me and how I can attempt to reach out today for the glory of Christ. I must TRUST - the key word here - that Christ will keep his word and that he is in perfect control of tomorrow. He will fulfill his word as he desires. I'm sure much surprise will come to us, as there was much the first time. My point is that all that I have any assurance of is right now. If my life is given over to Christ, my future is his. I live then in the blessed assurance that Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine! So then, my future must not become a preoccupation that overrides the beauty and even joy of the present. I can't exchange my present for the future. Although these days can't begin to compare to what lies ahead, they must not be forsaken. And yet, I press on to the high calling of Christ!
So, I leave you with the exhortation to live each day as if it were all that you have. That doesn't mean that you don't plan for the future. It means that you shouldn't walk through today with scorn. Don't give up the precious gift of life today. This is true whether or not today is great, blase or even bad. Today is ours to live out for the glory of Christ, so that others may hear and desire to also come to him. We live with the expectation of the future, but not with a preoccupation upon it. God is faithful and he will sort out what is to come. My job is to live today and to NOT exchange my present for my future.