A heartbreaking story on the cover of the newspaper had everyone talking. A groom was found dead hours after his wedding dinner. One of his friends said: “He was a very cheerful person and had just gotten married. Nobody could believe he was dead just hours after celebrating his wedding.”
Life is truly uncertain. Everyone is just a heartbeat away from eternity. First Chronicles 29:15 states: “Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.” It usually takes sad news, however, to drive home the reality of our frailty.
James 4:13 warns against speaking arrogantly about our future. We’re too limited to even understand what lies ahead, let alone take charge of it. We’re not the master of our own destiny, for we don’t even know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14). We’re like a mist. Our lives are so short—here today, gone tomorrow.
How should we live in light of these truths? We should learn to embrace God’s plan for us (James 4:15) and do all the good we can (James 4:17).
We embrace God’s plan by acknowledging His sovereign rule over us. We say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). We don’t make plans and then simply ask God to bless them. Instead, we should include God in every decision because He is over all of life.
Elisabeth Elliot observed, “God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.”
Next, we should do the good we can. As God’s Word has instructed us in good works, we must be faithful in doing them. That makes for a God-honoring today and tomorrow.
More:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Next:
What does your planning say about you? Are you self-confident or God-reliant? How do your plans acknowledge God’s plan?
neighbour on November 11, 2010 at 5:16 am
My wife has just been made redundant for 3 months and this reading really spoke to us – put your trust in God and do not worry about tomorrow.
bethanyF on November 11, 2010 at 6:17 am
Amen
little light on November 11, 2010 at 9:10 am
The words of this hymn has encouraged me a lot and I pray the same for you neighbour.
God holds the key of all unknown
And I am glad
If other hands should hold the key
Or if He trusted it to me
I might be sad.
What if to-morrow’s cares were here
Without its rest?
I’d rather He unlocked the day,
And ,as the hours swing open ,say,
“My will is best”
The very dimness of my sight
Makes me secure:
For, groping in my misty way,
I feel His hand ,I hear Him say,
“My help is sure.”
I cannot read His future plans
But this I know
I have the smiling of His face
And all the refuge of His grace,
While here below.
Enough: this covers all my wants:
And so I rest!
For what I cannot , He can see,
And in His care I saved shall be,
For ever blest
daisymarygoldr on November 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Timely and thoughtful topic teaching us to do the good we can! Life indeed is but a shadow and a breath in this world. Like the flower of grass our flesh fades and falls away (1 Pet 1:24).
Yesterday my elderly father expressed his wish to live long enough and see our newborn (named Evangel) grow up to become a great Evangelist! And like him we all have desires and dreams for ourselves and our loved ones, but God’s Word does not guarantee tomorrow.
Since we do not have the promise of tomorrow, it is not that we cannot make any plans for the future. We do make plans, but then submit them to God’s will. This means, to make plans that are in accordance to His plans for our lives.
Sometimes, I get so caught up in my own decision-making regarding my career and life in general that I blindly ignore God and His directions. Just to save face it can be very easy to let pride get in the way by continuing to do what is contrary to God’s purpose. And that is plain arrogance!
As a child of God I cannot be stubbornly rigid about my plans but be open to the Lord altering my plans. It is better to humbly have the attitude of “God willing” for we know not what tomorrow may bring (Prov 27:1).
plumbape on November 12, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Evangel…… I love it
Thanks
daisymarygoldr on November 13, 2010 at 10:21 am
Michael:) ? you are doing all the good you can while it is today, by showing “the kindness of God” (2 Sam 9:13) to a poor and undeserving stranger.
Be assured that tomorrow your reward will be great (Luke 6:35)!! You and your loved ones are in my daily prayers…
terrencesimon on February 3, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Trust in God his love more than any other kind of love.he will take care of us …….Sper!!!!