04.11.08

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. - James 4:13-16.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11.

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands. - Psalm 138:8. (The New Living Translation renders the verse in this way: "The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.")

Jake Merfeld had a plan to burglarize Derdre Rodriguez’s home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jake thought he was doing well as he had gathered up a video game, cell phones, and some jewelry and was making his getaway running across the yard. What Jake had not planned on was Derdre coming home and hearing him jump out the back window. She chased him down and used an ice scraper to work him over until he gave up.

Amber and Brandon Herbert had a plan to cover up their burglary of horse saddles and other items from the rural Oregon home of Robert Salisbury. They had posted a bogus notice on Craigslist that Salisbury was moving, and that he was giving away everything instead of moving it. However, law enforcement was able to trace the posting on Craigslist back to the Herbert’s and they have been arrested.

In Waterloo, Iowa, Cash Burch had a plan to steal a Ford Explorer. He was able to break into the vehicle but while trying to start it the battery ran down and an anti-theft system locked the doors trapping Cash inside. The owner finding the man still inside of the vehicle called police who arrested Cash.

In Detroit, Michigan a robber had a plan to rob a bank but left behind an address and a photo ID, and she was soon arrested.

We have our plans and if they were not so sad and pitiful I’m sure God would be laughing continuously. Instead, I think that the Lord may often grieve as He did over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37), "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" If we were wise we would cry out as did the Psalmist, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge (Psalm 57:1)."

The problem with our human plans is a lack of information, and wisdom. As James points out we do not even know what will happen tomorrow much less next week or next year. Our lives are very fragile things like a "vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." There are so many variables involved with a plan. A farmer makes his plan for a good crop preparing the ground with fertilizer and planting the seed. However, the farmer cannot control the weather and even though forecasting has improved, long range weather forecasting still has limits. A businessman makes his plans for a new business arranging for a line of credit for the necessary supplies. However, someone else may be planning the same type of business and open a larger, better supplied store a few blocks away. There are so many variables; so many things that can or may not happen when those things are needed to happen that can make our plans fail.

The good news for you is that God has a plan for your life and His plan is to "give you a future and a hope." God does have all the information and all of the wisdom necessary to bring success to His plan for your life. Will you let Him?