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Recently, while watching “The World’s Funniest Weather” on The Weather Chanel, while going to commercials, the announcer proclaimed, “There’s a 100% chance we’ll be right back.” On a different episode, it was said, “Don’t go away. We’ll be right back in fact.” Another episode proclaimed, “Weather permits, we’ll be right back.” Likely, those who wrote the script had not read the word of God, or else did not believe what they read. Another possibility is that they had read and believed what they read, but forgot what they had read. At any rate, each of the statements they made need to be amended, adding, “The Lord willing.”
James writes of some who boldly proclaimed that they would buy, sell, and get gain for another year. (James 4:13). The writer, “James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1), who was moved to write by the inspiration of God (1 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21), told them, “Wherefore 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.” (James 4:14). James then tells them, “For what ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15). Paul told those of Ephesus that he would go keep the feast at Jerusalem, and “return again unto you, if God will.” (Acts 18:19-21). Notice the three words, “if God will.”
In speaking of “the end of the world” (Matthew 24:3), “that day and hour” (24:36), Jesus said, “my Father only” knows when that will be. (Matthew 24:36). Verse 36 also says that no man (including you, dear reader) or angel knows if there will be another day for the earth to exist. Even Jesus is dependent upon God for that information. Verse 50 says, “The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.” Beloved, we cannot accurately say that we will do anything 100 percent. Neither will the weather have anything to do with whether or not the earth continues. It may alter one’s planting, harvesting, and all in between. It may change whether or not we do certain things. However, the weather will have absolutely nothing to do with the end of the world.
A false teacher said, “saying if it be the Lord will is what weak people say when they pray.” He went on to say that he told God what he wanted, and that he never prayed, if it was the Lord’s will. In so saying, he added to the information already piled up proving him to be a false teacher, and he also showed his arrogance and ignorance.
Let us always remember to say, “If God will.” (James 4:13)
James Pilgrim
via Chapman church of Christ
Ripley, MS