Introduction: Do you ever plan ahead? How should we, as believers in Jesus Christ, live in the light of His promise to come again? Is there a balance? How can we both look to the future and yet be ready for the rapture? This devotion will address this dilemma. 

1. Does the brevity of Life seem UNFAIR?

As the Lord wills…. Planning and scheduling 

“13Go 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: 14Whereas 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. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:14-17)

The coming of the Lord draws near. “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8). James is saying when we plan, we need to realize this: “As the Lord wills…” We are not promised to live here on the earth, even tomorrow.

2. What about Unnecessary CARE?

“5Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?…. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt 6:25-34)

Try not to take on took much CARE in Planning for tomorrow! Jesus instructed His disciples to be LOOKING UP because our redemption draws near.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

3. Can we Plan without Care because of the Absolute Power of PRAYER?

“And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:39-42)

Paul writes to Titus explaining how we are to live in the light of Jesus’ coming, by LOOKING IN and LOOKING OUT while LOOKING UP!

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-14)

Conclusion: Can we get overextended with planning? In other words, since we do not know the future, where do we draw the line? Praying and planning by saying, “as the Lord wills” is the proper way to being ready for Jesus to return but also planning for the future.