James 4:13-16, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”
I could have chosen any one of hundreds of Scripture passages to go with my blog message. I was thinking this evening about how much we worry as believers. I admit that I find myself starting to worry sometimes, but it doesn't take me long to fully rest in my God. I am not worried about what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next year. If something bad happens, then bring it on, my God is bigger than any problems I may have! I was thinking tonight that there's absolutely nothing to worry about. The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is what you do with it.
One thing I have learned in life is that when one door closes, another door always opens. To lose something in the will of God is to find something better. Truthfully, there have been bad things that have happened in my life, that turned out to be good things. God turned them around. Other bad things that happened led to opportunities. One way or another, God has always taken care of me and guided me. I love this poem by Pastor Danny Castle...
In youth I'm too happy to think, I've got plenty of time left.
In manhood I'm too busy to think, I'm trying to make a lot of money.
In the prime of life I'm too anxious to think, worry has taken over.
When I start getting old, I'm too old to think—life's wasted, heart's got harder.
Dying in bed—I'm too sick to think, I'm weak and suffering.
Death is too late to think—time's over and opportunity is lost.
In eternity—forever to think, I'm in Hell now with no mercy, and lost forever.
“Too long I've laid me down to sleep, and prayed the Lord my soul to keep.
I should awake before I die, and realize time is passing by;
And rise and go and tell the lost, despite my plans despite the cost.
Too long I've laid me down to sleep, while multitudes about me weep;
And other cries of dark despair, for no one ever seems to care.
My life is short, and soon I'll stand, with sinner's bloods upon my hand;
Unless I wake before I die, and realize time is passing me by.”
“The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power,
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour;
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed, to lose one's health is more,
to lose your soul is such a loss, that no one can restore.”
—Pastor Danny Castle
The things that you and I worry about don't ever happen, none times our of ten. I'd say 19 times out of 20! Yet why do we all worry so much? I know I tend to worry. It is in our nature. But I have learned not to accept worry. Jesus was right when He said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The wonderful truths of the inspired Word of God will set any worried soul free. When I meditate upon the beautiful promises of God, my heart burns with joy. So often we allow the failures of yesterday, and worries over tomorrow, to rob us of the joy of serving God today. Dear child of God, your name is written in Heaven in the Lamb's Book of Life. We are going to receive a new glorified body fashioned like unto the Lord's resurrected body (Philippians 3:21). Jesus is preparing a home for us in Heaven (John 14:1-3). God has promised to give us all things (Romans 8:32). We shall never want or hurt anymore. Every tear shall be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). God will make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
But none of this will be yours if you die in your sins without Christ. If you have turned from your sinful ways to get to Heaven, YOU WON'T GO TO HEAVEN that way! You must cease from all of your own works, and REST completely in the Good News of Christ crucified, buried and risen for your sins. Jesus paid your debt of sin and mine. You must trust what Christ did for you through the cross of Calvary, and not rely upon your reformation or new lifestyle. Sadly, Calvinists are going to Hell forever!!! They add sanctification to justification, corrupting the Word of God and perverting God's free grace.
The ONLY thing that you need to worry about dear reader is if you have never been born-again. Unsaved people will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Only through faith alone in Jesus Christ will anybody ever enter into God's Kingdom. All of your best efforts is filth to God (Isaiah 64:6). You cannot perform good works to impress God. Even telling one lie is enough to send you to Hell forever (James 2:10). Therefore, you and I desperately need a Savior. Jesus is that Savior, who died on the cross for our sins.
Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt of sin we could not pay. If you are a child of God, you have nothing to worry about. I meet so many believers who live defeated lives, down in the dumps all the time. I have been there too friend, but it was only because I took my eyes of Jesus and started thinking about my problems. What we think about determines our mindset toward other things. I heard a wonderful sermon today by Pastor Ron Haese about “A Noisy Soul.” Many believers think about their problems and it generates noise in our soul...
The key to overcoming worry is to stop thinking about the things that cause us to worry. I find that the best way to overcome worry is to stay busy in my ministry, share the Gospel, listen to Bible preaching, get out of the house and go do something, and be faithful to your local church. If nothing else, we can serve God in our pain with a broken heart. That is what I have been doing for the past 15 years, serving God with a broken heart!!!
Instead of complaining to other people and bellyaching about your bad situation, you should be praising God and telling people how faithful and wonderful Jesus our Savior is! No matter what happens, or doesn't happen, GOD IS SO GOOD!!!
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