Christian Living

This time of year, there are those from all over the country who will be graduating from high schools. Some graduates will be entering the various areas of the labor force full time, whereas others will continue on to higher levels of education, training for trades, military service, or a combination of these secular activities, as each one seeks or pursues his or her own niche in life.

Being “politically correct” in an increasingly anti-Christian society, there will be little, if any, mention of God or the things of the God of the Bible at most graduating commencement ceremonies. Much to the devil’s displeasure, I will take this opportunity to do so.

There are many things that can change, alter, or even eliminate the plans that we have, or that others may have had, in mind for us, but there is nothing that can change the individual plan that God has in mind for each one of us.

To pursue or not to pursue HIS plan for OUR lives is a daily choice that we make, once we have been presented with the Gospel Message and thereby having been given the accompanying opportunity to become a child of God.

In the meantime, or afterwards, there is nothing wrong, in of itself, with seeking and enjoying legitimately acquired secular success and accompanying prosperity (3John 1: 2). But keep in mind that one will gain nothing of eternal value, if in the process, he or she neglects his or her soul (Mark 8: 36).

Here in the Church Age, God’s plan calls for every soul (1Tim. 2: 4) to be saved by making a positive response when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message encapsulated in John 3:16, 18, but He leaves that choice in the hands of the recipient.

Once born-again (John 3: 5, 7), God’s post (after) salvation plan, calls for every born-again believer to follow Him, by embracing Biblical discipleship. But again, He leaves that choice in the hands of the recipient.

Biblical discipleship involves the daily intake ( 2Pet. 3: 18) and ongoing application (James 1: 22) of the Word of God to ALL that one thinks, says, or does, no matter where one is or what one is otherwise doing 24/7.

Biblical discipleship is initially for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20), evangelizing and edifying the souls we interact with in our personal periphery.

Our different opportunities, skills, and interests is what places each one of us where He wants us to be at any time along the path of life. His plan, rather we are aware of it or not, will be controlled by ALL the doors that He makes available, and that He opens or closes along the corridor of life. His plan calls for both blessings and discipline (Heb. 12: 6), here on Earth, and rewards and privileges in Heaven for those who choose to become advancing disciples.

By divine design, we are not all given the same type or number of opportunities, but those who are given more are all that more responsible for what do with them.

God gives each one of us ALL that we need to fulfill His plan (Phil. 4: 19), but not necessarily all that we want to fulfill ours. Discipleship calls for self-denial (Matt. 16: 24), if and when necessary, to execute the plan of God.

When life here on Earth is over, It’s not how long you have lived that matters, but how much of the time you were given was spent in the plan that God had in mind.

My prayer for each and every one of you is that you will identify and develop the individual plan that God has in mind for you, as this is God’s answer to the Age-old question, “For what purpose am I here in this world at this point in time in human history?”