We live in a world of planners where everything is planned out
and planning takes up most of life. A planner is one who views everything
from the position of a mathematical problem or as a well ordered text
book. Their planning may sound like this, "I plan on going to college;
getting a Masters degree, a high paying job, a wife and two kids; and 
retiring early in life to live unto myself." Where is Jesus Christ in this
picture?
        Saul was on his way to Damascus (Acts 9) when the light of God
struck him down and Jesus spoke unto him. Saul (who we now know as the
Apostle Paul) had it all! In the eyes of man and religion, he was on
schedule (refer to Philippians 3: 3-10). To bring up Paul’s
qualifications to the present day, let us retranslate them in accordance
to what is upheld for the standard today. This is of course an analogy, 
and, as such, it may have some flaws:

        "I was dedicated on the eighth day according to the religion of
my parents, born a full blooded American into a family of honor who are
highly esteemed in accordance with all works of outward sinlessness. I
am a solid and unwavering Mason of the third generation, concerning the
creed and bylaws, blameless as one who has fulfilled all and has risen to 
the position of Pastor.       
        In regard to the church of my youth, I defend it and am true only
to it and to no other, considering all others who do not attend as being 
of the spirit of Antichrist. I comply to and am fully justified in 
accordance to the righteousness set forth by the requirements of my religion.
In this I stand firm, not wavering, but expecting full admittance into
the kingdom of God."

        This may be good enough to please man, but what are we going to
say when we stand before God? Will we hand Him our list of
self-righteous plans and deeds and demand entrance into the kingdom?
Will they stand the fire that will test them on the day when we stand in
the presence of God and give an account of all that we did in this life?
        Paul gave up all of his self-righteousness and religious ways to
obtain the righteousness of Christ. He counted them as "dung" and gave
up his ambitions and plans to serve and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Will we give up all to follow the Savior?  My wants, my plans,
they must all go, for God wants this vessel for Himself. Will this be an
easy thing? No! for to die to the ways of man is far more difficult then 
to lose one’s own life and go to be with Christ.
        One of the sayings that has been set forth lately has been,
"Catch the vision", the vision being one of equipping ourselves and
others to go out and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to preach that
which will save a soul from hell (eternal separation from God).  But to
catch the vision, we must give up OUR PLANS, OUR TIME, AND YES, EVEN OUR
VERY LIVES, if needed.
        God, when he came to Moses in the burning bush (the bush that was
not consumed), did not consider that Moses may have other plans. He
didn’t ask Moses if what He wanted fit in with his schedule. His heart
had already been gripped by God and there was only unbelief that stood
in the way.  We today claim to have God’s Spirit residing in our hearts
and yet we are so booked up as to our  time and our daily life that even
God must make an appointment to speak to us.  "It is my time and my
life" we are fond of saying. We say so ignorantly, not realizing that
we live on borrowed time; for the time of our sojourning here is in the
hands of the living God. Our lives have been given to us by God, who has
quickened us by His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1). We are not our own
anymore, for we are under the command of Christ, soldiers of the cross.
        Jesus spoke unto us about the sovereignty of God, teaching that
life is much more than eating, drinking, and clothing the body. The fowls 
of the air and the lilies of the field are all taken care of by our
Heavenly Father.  So seek you first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take,
therefore, no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall take thought for
the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Mt 6:25-34).
        Does this mean that we are to be slothful in daily living and 
forfeit a retirement fund or a savings plan that would have helped in the
time of old age. Nay, but we are not to focus our total attention or
become caught up in planning for a day that may not even be. We might
not be here tomorrow!   

        In James 4: 14-16, we are told that our life is but a vapor,
appearing for a time and then vanishing away. So the plans of tomorrow
will be in the hands of God, and so we should place them there by saying, 
If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.
        Saints, let us place the things of life in their right
perspective and make no provision for the flesh to lead and to guide.
Let us devote our time to the pursuit of God’s plan and be not so taken
up with our own plans. If we need more food for thought, let us remember
the Pharisees and scribes who were caught up in a religious framework
that had not the approval of God. Remember that business is not godliness. 

	Let us pray:

        Teach us, O Lord, to wait on Thee and to be obedient to Your plan.
May we not in our flesh boast in what we are doing, but boast in Thee our
Savior and our God. Teach us today to hear Thy voice and to do Thy will,
leaving the future to Thee. And may our time be taken up with Thee and
that which Thou would have us to do. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
                                                                        
                                    AMEN!

                                                        M. H. G.