Factoring God Into Our Plans

Tragic events like what happened this week elicit strong emotions. What were you feeling this week? Fear? Grief? Amazement? Disbelief? Sadness? Anger? Doubt? Tragic events like what happened this week elicit strong emotions.

Such tragic events also serve as reminders… They remind us that we should be always ready and right with our Lord each and every passing day. They remind us of one fact – there are no guarantees on this earth for even another moment of life. We need to remember that this world is not our home!

Remember Our Lives Are But A Breath 1 Peter 1:24-25 -- For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."And this is the word that was preached to you.

Job 7:6-7 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.

Psalm 39:4-5 "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

The Folly of Focusing On the World Matthew 24:36-39 – No one knows the day or hour Before the flood, no one paid attention to the preaching of Noah. It was business as usual – eating, drinking, marriages. Until it was too late. Vs. 42 -- "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.”

Luke 12:35-40 – Be dressed in readiness with lamps burning Be ready when the master comes and knocks The Lord will reward those who he finds watching when He returns If a homeowner knew the time a thief was going to come, he would be ready. We must be ready – because we do not know when Christ will come.

Preparing Our Hearts and Minds for Eternity 1 Peter 5:8 -- Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Self-controlled and alert! Always ready! Don’t let the devil catch you unawares.

1 Peter 1:13-15 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…. Our battle plan for maintaining holiness

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. Practice the ALWAYS approach to Christian readiness.

Do We Have Guarantees? The only guarantee we have about this life on this earth is that is will end someday. The only lasting guarantees we have are for eternity. We will spend eternity in one of two places. As we make our plans each and ever day, we must be sure to factor the Lord into whatever plans we make.