“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.”
–James 4:13-16
A phrase not often heard these days is “the LORD willing” OR “if the LORD will.”
It takes the responsibility for future actions OFF of puny man and puts them on the Creator God, who controls all things.
The thought was used several times by the apostle Paul, in his writings.
“But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.”
–Acts 18:21
“But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.”
–1CORINTHIANS 4:19
“And this will we do, if God permit.”
–Hebrews 6:3
One speculates that the phrase is not heard much in the times in which we live because modern man has such an exalted opinion of himself.
Why would modern man concede that ANYONE–particularly God–has ANY control over his actions and behaviors? Modern man, for the most part, believes he–and he alone–controls his future actions.
Modern man is a decision maker!
Regardless of what modern man believes, this does not invalidate ANY of what James 4:13-16 states.
“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.”
–James 4:13-16
One would suppose that simple PRUDENCE alone would dictate that modern man cover all of his bases and take James 4:13-16 as good, sound advice.
However, such a one would not calculate the seeming inability of modern man to mouth the words, “If the LORD will.”
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: March 27, 2019.]
RELATED ARTICLES
- TRIBULATION: What is Tribulation?
- End Times Tribulation: Believers Should Have Much Tribulation
- PROMISES: God’s Promises of Persecution, Tribulation and Hatred of the World for the Believer
- TRIBULATION IN THE END TIMES: What is Tribulation and How to Overcome It
- End Times Hatred of the Believers in Jesus Christ
- FAITH IN THE END TIMES: Triumphant Over Fear, The World and Tribulation
- End Times Promises for Christians: Persecution, Tribulation and More
- NO ESCAPE: Surrounded by Tribulation in the End Times
- PEACE in a World of Tribulation
- TRIBULATION: Christians Experience Tribulation Every Day
- Tribulation and Rapture: Two Deceptions, Five Questions
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- End Times Trials, Tribulations, Trouble and Disaster: Put your trust in Jesus
- Pre-Tribulation Rapture Promoted by Enemies of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
MORE
- Man Struggles Against God
- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
RELATED ARTICLES
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- END TIMES PREPARATION: 15 Ways to Prepare for the End Times
- Deceitful Workers are Victims of Deception Themselves
- End Times Survival, End Times Preparation
- 35 Most Important ETPR Articles
- DISOBEDIENCE and REBELLION: The Wisdom of Man OR the Word of God?
- Apostate Church: Breaking Every Chain
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
by Jeremiah James
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash.com
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-19. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP, 2007-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s authors and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson, Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted to those blogs/website.
Related articles
End Times Prophecy Report 