What About Your Future?
J. Allen Blair
Be Yourself
Have you ever looked at another Christian and felt that you would like to be just like that person? You admired the things done for God and your own heart longed to be used in the same capacity? You felt that if you had those gifts, you could do equally as much, and maybe more. Because of your own inabilities, you became discouraged. In fact, you even became jealous of this friend because of the successes for God. If this has ever been your experience, or if it is your experience at the present time, may I encourage you to be yourself? God did not make you to be another person. He made you to be you. He gave you specific gifts to be used for Him in your own way. Be yourself. Don't try to be what God never intended. Respect your own individuality, which is God-given. Don't devise some little self-made plan of your own when God has already provided an eternal plan for your life. Surrender yourself to the One who can do a far better job of leading and guiding you than you could ever hope to do yourself. Let Jesus Christ be Lord of all.
Follow God's Leading
After all, two people cannot be in control of one life. Whenever this is tried, there is nothing but continuous conflict, and progress is rarely on the agenda. God has a better way for you. As you wait on Him and seek His way, you enter into the blessedness of Thy will be done. Don't resist Him who is the altogether lovely One, the One who has promised to instruct you and teach you in the way in which you should go (Psalm 32:8).
The Paths of Blessing
God's chosen paths are always paths of blessing. This, of course, does not exclude pain or hardship. But, wherever these paths lead, you can be certain that they are God-chosen. And if they are God-chosen, they will be fruitful paths.
Cancer: A Great Experience?
I recall the testimony of Brian Schurr of Havertown, Pennsylvania. Brian was 25 years of age. He said, "I had everything ahead of me. Everyone predicted great things for me. And my future could not have been more hopeful. I was already a veteran of more than a decade in the newspaper business. I was a writer and producer for television. I had worked as a magazine writer and editor. My first book Generation in a Rut had been published. I had traveled widely, covering major news events in sports, motion pictures, and politics. I had handled congressional political campaigns and was on a first name basis with many celebrities. Yes, I knew the people you were supposed to know to get to the top."
Brian went on to say, "I was raised in a Christian home where my brothers and I were faithfully taught the meaning of salvation through believing on Christ. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was a high school student. Christ became my Savior, but He never became my Master. I never reached the place of total commitment—that time in my life when I truly put myself in God's hands to await His every command and literally to follow Him. I failed to let God take hold of my life. Because He didn't have my life, in due time and without much struggle, the world did. The lures of the world—the glamour and fame—became my god. Something happened, however, to change my life and my future, and it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. With the world waiting for me, and no place to go but up, I was told that I had cancer. The doctor said the disease had spread considerably and my chances were slim.
It may sound strange, but this cancer with all its pain and related symptoms became the greatest experience of my life. It brought me to the point of total commitment to Christ. A point we so often talk about, and so seldom reach. I literally placed my life in His hands. As strange as it may seem, by facing death I learned the meaning of life. During my illness, I had much time to think. I asked myself the question of James 4:14, What is your life? And God provided the answer. It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. I only wish I could share the true meaning of these words. As a teenager, I used to carry a bookmark in my Bible that said, ‘Only one life; twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.' Tomorrow always seemed like a better time for Christ and His service. I know now that although there may not be a tomorrow here, praise God there will always be a tomorrow with Him."
Even with a cancer-filled body, Brian was able to say, "I am experiencing a joy and peace far greater than anything I ever thought possible. Fame, fortune and my great career suddenly seemed very unimportant to me. I praise God that my life is now centered around the statement of John 3:30. He must increase, but I must decrease. Were it not for the cancer, and the subsequent time it gave me to think, I might have gone home to face my Lord with an empty record and an empty life."
Not Empty-handed
Brian Schurr went home to be with the Lord, but you may be certain he was not empty-handed when he entered the presence of the One who came to mean everything to him. May I urge you to give thought to this very moving testimony of a 25-year-old man who came face to face with reality?
Will You Be Empty-Handed?
For whom are you living? What is the meaning of life as far as you are concerned? Is it to exalt yourself, to hear the praises of men, and to be commended for your own fleshly achievements? There is a far greater objective that God has intended for those who have met His Son Jesus Christ.
Give Christ The Right-of-Way
Christ wants the right-of-way to do what He wants, to lead us where He wants us to go, and to be to us what He wants to be. I urge you to give heart consideration to Paul's appeal found in Romans 12:1-2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Present yourself to God completely with no restraints, that you might determine His perfect will for your life. And, if you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Master, do it now. Don't wait. Waiting can be extremely costly. Now is the time.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.
(Isaiah 1:18)
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