Before my third grandchild was born, my daughter began planning for life with two boys. She made appointments and reservations based on her new reality and no one really questioned her reasoning. Planning ahead is a good thing, but how far is too far, and is there such a thing as not far enough?
You’ve probably been in a situation where you immediately regretted saying or doing something. Putting your foot in your mouth, wishing you could take something back, and buyer’s remorse are fairly universally recognized. You may have also lost a deposit and regretted not paying for the travel insurance in the past few years. You may not think the Bible addresses such issues, but God’s Word is extremely practical.
”Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.“
James 4:13-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.13-16.NLT
”But what happens when we live God’s way?
He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
”My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.
That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.“
Galatians 2:20, 5:23-26, 6:4-5 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/gal.5.25.MSG
God’s Word is not just a collection of inspiring stories and quotes. It’s not purely an academic work to be analyzed or literature to be enjoyed and stowed in a collection on a shelf. Eugene Peterson’s The Message calls it truth to be worked out in every detail of our lives. The Psalmist calls it a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
”Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.“
Galatians 5:25 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/gal.5.25.NIRV
My toddler grands are learning to walk stairs independently. The ten months between them means one is more adept than the other, but what she lacks in maturity she more than makes up for with exuberance! Over the past year, I’ve gone from carrying them up and downstairs to holding their hands. Keeping in step with both is challenging. Not for God however. Our ever present Lord is not restricted by space or time and He walks in intimate fellowship with all who seek Him.
”When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child. I had the understanding of a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a foggy mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face.
What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.“
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1co.13.11-12.NIRV
As a student, a child, a dependent, I was more last minute, a dreamer, a procrastinator. As a spouse, an employee, a parent, I’ve learned to be more forward thinking. Living in light of eternity means living wisely today with our eyes fixed on Jesus, obediently relying on His Word while trusting the unknowns to Him.
”“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value.
Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.
For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure. (*Your thoughts will always be focused on what you treasure.)”
Matthew 6:19-21 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.6.19-21.TPT
Remember drivers training? Remember the instructor telling you to keep your eyes on the road, but not the road right in front of your vehicle? I was taught to keep my eyes far enough ahead that I could react to the motorists in front of me, whether oncoming traffic or vehicles moving in my same direction. Not only does focusing too close cause you to oversteer, creating that wobbly driver effect, but it lessens the time you have to respond to the actions of others on the road.
I’ve also heard it said that some people are so heavenly minded that they’re no earthly good. I get the point. There is a sweet spot where keeping our eyes fixed on heaven and our feet firmly planted on the ground meet. There is a well-worn path where Jesus walked all of His earthly life. We have His example so that we may follow in His steps.
A Fitting Reply 