BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE PLANS

I do not know about you, but sometimes I get to thinking about how strange and perplexing this old life can be. I have often found myself looking back and thinking about all the people who have come and gone in my life - men and women, boys and girls. There are many reasons why people come and go. One thing is certain, though - life is not certain; it is constantly changing.

Yes, I am aware that the apostle Paul taught us to be forward looking, and I agree; that's a Holy-Spirit inspired doctrine, but we just cannot help but notice how rapidly life circumstances so often change.

In the book of James, the Holy Spirit guided the great leader of the Jerusalem church to address such matters: "Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, 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 vapor, 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" (James 4:13-15)

With all the constant change and the absolute uncertainty of tomorrow, let us not forget that at one point we changed - or at least we were supposed to change. In Romans 6:17 Paul reminded the brethren in Rome that they once were servants of sin, but now have obeyed the gospel. Yes, we changed when we put Christ on in baptism, and we must continually change and grow to meet the uncertainties of this earthly existence. Move forward in faith, Christians.

Steve Harris