Hebrews 11:6: It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
Even though God initially didn’t give Abraham any details concerning the land that He had promised to give him and his descendants, it didn’t keep Abraham from believing in God (Genesis 12). Likewise, even though I don’t know where God is taking my family and me, I choose to move forward in Christ. I may not know any details of the journey or the destination; nonetheless, I am not discouraged from continuing to walk on, through faith in God.
The New Testament believer is commanded to walk by faith and not by sight. Even so, what exactly does that mean to us who have placed our trust in Jesus? It simply means that we have chosen to surrender control of our lives to Christ on earth, both now and in our future, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. What are we really giving up or surrendering when we finally yield our plans and desires to the Lord? Do we actually have the ability to determine how long we live or how well our life will be in future years? We absolutely do not! We are not God; however, we can be rewarded if we will seek God first and please Him by faith.
When we’re young and filled with zeal for life, it is normal to have visions of grandeur and high aspirations for ourselves. Even though we may have plans for our lives, we also know that life doesn’t always go according to our plans. Depending on what time of day you opened this email, you may have already realized that today isn’t cooperating with your schedule. However, we are learning to place our plans and our lives in God’s control, and He will work all things for our good.
I bring up the issue of having plans to point out to you a deeper truth. Even though you have plans for your life, and though you may be on track to fulfill most, if not all, that you have purposed in your life, it doesn’t mean that your life is pleasing to your heavenly Father. There is no eternal value in our plans unless we come into an agreement with God’s plan and will for us.
The Word of God tells us that we have no promise of tomorrow. God only promises us today. “Today, if you will hear His voice and not harden your hearts. . . .” Just having plans doesn’t mean we will have a hope or a future, but when we surrender our agendas and dreams to include God’s will, then He can guarantee us both fulfillment in this life and eternal bliss in the life to come. The great reward that I have experienced from trusting the Lord and obeying His plans over my own plans is this: I don’t have to sweat the details. I simply obey what He requires of me, and I leave the rest up to Him to work out for me and my family.
A life that’s surrendered to the Lordship of Christ is one of peace, security, reward, and of hope for the life to come. “Won’t it be wonderful there, having no burdens to bear?” When we enter His rest, we cease from our own labor. —submitted by Pastor Asa Dockery, US
