"THE PURPOSE OF THE PATH"

                                                              JAMES 4:13-15

 INTRODUCTION:

           THE OLDER I GET THE MORE I REALIZE HOW PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE MY TIME IS.  TIME IS SOMETHING WE ONLY HAVE ONCE, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE GOOD USE OF IT.  WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY DAYS TO DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO DO HERE ON THIS EARTH, AND I WANT MY DAYS TO COUNT.

           I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING IF ASKED, BUT ARE THEY CONSCIOUSLY MAKING THE CHOICES THAT WILL REALLY COUNT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE?

           I HAVE MY SHARE OF REGRETS AND I REALIZE THAT I CAN NOT UNDO THE PAST, HOWEVER, I CAN GO FORWARD LOOKING AHEAD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.  THAT IS THE MINDSET WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE.

 JAMES 4:13-15, (13) "GO TO NOW, YE THAT SAY, TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL GO INTO SUCH A CITY, AND CONTINUE THERE A YEAR, AND BUY AND SELL, AND GET GAIN:"

           JAMES DOES NOT CONDEMN WISE BUSINESS PLANNING, BUT RATHER PLANNING THAT LEAVES OUT GOD.

           THE PEOPLE SO DEPICTED HERE ARE PRACTICAL ATHEISTS, LIVING THEIR LIVES AND MAKING THEIR PLANS AS IF GOD DID NOT EXIST.

           SUCH CONDUCT IS INCONSISTENT WITH GENUINE SAVING FAITH, WHICH SUBMITS TO GOD.

 VERSE 14 "WHEREAS YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW. FOR WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS A VAPOR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY."

           JAMES EXPOSES THE PRESUMPTUOUS FOLLY OF THE PRACTICAL ATHEISTS HE CONDEMNED IN VERSE 13, THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM, LUKE 12:16-21.

           GOD ALONE KNOWS THE FUTURE, ISAIAH 46:9-10.

           "VAPOR": THIS REFERS TO A PUFF OF SMOKE OR ONE'S BREATH THAT APPEARS FOR A MOMENT IN COLD AIR.     IT STRESSES THE TRANSITORY NATURE OF LIFE.

           WE SEE FROM THIS, THAT WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHETHER WE WILL BE ALIVE TOMORROW OR NOT.

 NOTE: THERE IS AN ALLOTTED TIME FOR EACH OF US TO DIE.

 WE LEAVE AT THE TIME THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN, AND NOT AT OUR OWN CHOOSING.

 WE LEAVE NOT ONE SECOND BEFORE OUR ALLOTTED TIME.

           WE DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF HOW LONG WE LIVE, GOD DOES.     MAKE GOOD OF TODAY, IT MAY BE THE ONLY DAY YOU HAVE.

 VERSE 15 "FOR THAT YE OUGHT TO SAY, IF THE LORD WILL, WE SHALL LIVE, AND DO THIS, OR THAT."

           THE TRUE BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN SUBMITS HIS PLANS TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST,

           THIS VERSE TEACHES THAT GOD DOES HAVE SOMETHING FOR BELIEVERS TO DO AND THAT THEY SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

           JAMES CONDEMNS ONLY ELABORATE PLANNING THAT OMITS GOD, PROVERBS 16:9

           1.  GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH BELIEVER

 EPHESIANS 2:10 "FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM."                                                

           "WORKMANSHIP": REFERS NOT TO OUR ORIGINAL OR PHYSICAL BIRTH, BUT TO OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH: WHAT WE ARE SPIRITUALLY IN THE GOOD SENSE IS DUE TO GOD, NOT OURSELVES.

           BY GOD'S GRACE, MADE EFFECTIVE THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, WE BECOME HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS.   

           GOD HAS ORDAINED THAT WE LIVE LIVES OF GOOD WORKS, ALL OF THOSE WORKS ARE DONE IN HIS POWER AND FOR HIS GLORY AFTER SALVATION.

           GOOD WORKS CANNOT PRODUCE SALVATION, BUT ARE SUBSEQUENT AND THE RESULTS OF GOD-EMPOWERED FRUITS AND EVIDENCES OF SALVATION.

           THESE GOOD WORKS ARE EXPECTED BECAUSE GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM, AND THAT IS WHY JAMES SAYS FAITH IS ILLEGITIMATE IF WORKS ARE NOT PRESENT, JAMES 2:17-26. 

 PROVERBS 14:12 "THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH."

          THE PROBLEM WITH THE CHOSEN CHILDREN OF GOD IN THEIR JOURNEY IS THAT THEY DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN SIGHT.

           WE MUST NOT LISTEN TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND ITS FLESHLY DESIRES WHICH LEADS TO SIN AND DEATH.

           EVEN THOUGH GOD CREATED US AND ORDAINED GOOD THINGS FOR US, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO WALK IN THESE GOOD WORKS THAT GOD PURPOSED FOR US TO WALK IN BEFORE THE WORLD WAS CREATED.

           WE MUST WALK IN THE PATH OF SALVATION JESUS PROVIDED FOR US.     THE FRUIT OF OUR SALVATION SHOWS IN OUR ACTIONS AFTER WE ARE SAVED.

           THESE WORKS ARE IN JESUS CHRIST.     IN THE WORKS THAT YOU AND I DO,THE WORLD SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE JESUS.

           IT IS OUR CHOICE TO MAKE, HE LETS US CHOOSE.     WE CAN CHOOSE OUR OWN WAY, OR HIS WAY.

 MATTHEW 5:16 "LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN."          

           WE SHOULD BE A LIGHT SET ON A HILL, SO THAT THOSE IN DARKNESS (SPIRITUAL) MIGHT SEE THE LIGHT AND THEN BE SAVED.     LET THE PEOPLE SEE THE GOOD WORKS CAUSED BY THIS GREAT LIGHT BEING EVER PRESENT IN OUR LIVES.

           ARE YOU FULFILLING THIS SCRIPTURE IN YOUR OWN WORKS?

           2.  GOD GIVES MAN A CHOICE

           GOD HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TELL US WHAT TO CHOOSE IF WE WANT TO LIVE, BUT YET HE STILL IS LEAVING THE CHOICE UP TO US.     WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HE WANTS US TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.     HE WANTS OUR DESCENDENTS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.    YET, WE HAVE TO CHOOSE LIFE IF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

           FROM THE VERY BEGINNING MANKIND WAS GIVEN A CHOICE, THE CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH.     THE ULTIMATE CHOICE WAS MANS TO MAKE.     MAN WAS GIVEN FREE WILL TO CHOOSE LIFE OR DEATH.

           GOD WANTS MAN TO CHOOSE HIM OF OUR OWN FREE WILL.     THERE ARE MANY PATHS BEFORE US SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE CHOICES, BUT ONLY ONE WILL BRING ETERNAL LIFE.

 NOTE: GOD ALLOWED ADAM TO MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, SIN COST HIM HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THE AUTHORITY GOD HAD GIVEN HIM, AND ALL THAT THAT ENTAILED.

           GOD HAD GIVEN ADAM COMPLETE AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH, BUT ADAM TURNED THAT AUTHORITY OVER TO SATAN.

           THE EARTH AND MAN FELL UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN AND MAN WAS LOST AND WITHOUT HOPE.     ALL OF MANKIND WAS LOST AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.

           THANK GOD, HE HAD A PLAN FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN THROUGH FAITH IN HIS SON.     IT WOULD COST HIM MORE THAN WE COULD EVER POSSIBLY IMAGINE.     IT COST HIM THE CRUCIFIXION OF HIS SON ON THE CROSS.

           CHOOSING ETERNAL LIFE, OR DEATH AND HELL WAS EMPHASIZED BY JESUS CHRIST.

 THE ONE'S WHO BELIEVE IN HIM HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH HIM, WHILE THE ONE'S WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE, FACE ETERNAL DEATH AND HELL, JOHN 3:1-36.

           ALL OF MANKIND HAS THE OFFER OF ETERNAL LIFE IF THEY CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST.     EVERY PERSON FACES THE SAME CHOICE.     EVERY PERSON MUST ACCEPT IT FOR THEMSELVES.

 REVELATION 13:8 "AND ALL THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH SHALL WORSHIP HIM, WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

          ALL THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST WILL SOME DAY BOW TO THE KNEE AND WORSHIP CHRIST.     THEN THEY WILL FACE JUDGMENT AND SUFFER ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.

          GOD HAD THIS PLAN ALL ALONG, HE IS SHOWING US THE WAY TO LIFE.     JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, THERE IS NO OTHER.     IF WE WANT LIFE, THEN WE MUST CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST.

           GOD IS ALLOWING ALL THESE OTHER WAYS (FALSE GOD'S AND TEACHINGS) TO HAPPEN, BUT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE HIM FIRST IN ORDER TO HAVE GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIFE.

           EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO WILL BE IN VAIN IF WE DO NOT FIRST CHOOSE TO BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST.     THIS HAS TO BE OUR CHOICE FOR THERE IS NO OTHER, THEN WE CAN FOLLOW AFTER HIM.

          3.  HE IS CALLING US TO BE SONS OF GOD.

 JOHN 1:12 "BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVE HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME."

 1st JOHN 3:23A "AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT, THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. . . . "

           "AS MANY AS RECEIVE HIM": NOTICE HERE, HE DID NOT DO IT FOR THEM.  THEY HAD THEIR OWN FREE WILL.     HE MADE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM AND GAVE THEM POWER TO RECEIVE IT; BUT THEY HAD TO OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, ACCEPT IT.

            TO RECEIVE HIM, WHO IS THE WORD OF GOD, MEANS TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS CLAMS, PLACE ONE'S FAITH IN HIM, AND THEREBY REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND ACCEPT HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

           THOSE WHO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR, RECEIVE FULL AUTHORITY TO CLAIM THE EXALTED TITLE OF "CHILDREN OF GOD".

          THESE VERSES REPEAT THE THREE FEATURES OF THIS EPISTLE, BELIEVING, LOVING, AND OBEYING, WHICH ARE THE MAJOR EVIDENCES OF TRUE SALVATION.

           THE THIRD BENEFIT OF LOVE IS THE ABIDING PRESENCE AND EMPOWERING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 ROMANS 10:9 "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED."

           THE CONFESSION IS THAT HE IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.     THE BELIEF CANNOT JUST BE WORDS, IT MUST TRULY BE IN OUR HEART.

           THIS IS A DEEP PERSONAL CONVICTION, WITHOUT RESERVATION THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.     THIS INCLUDES REPENTING FROM SIN, AND TRUSTING IN JESUS FOR SALVATION AND SUBMITTING TO HIM AS LORD.

           TRUE SAVING FAITH IS SUPERNATURAL, A GRACIOUS GIFT OF GOD THAT PRODUCES IN THE HEART REAL BELIEF; TO TRUST, RELY ON, OR HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

           4.  HE IS CALLING US TO BE HEIRS

           WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN WE CAN EVEN IMAGINE.     WE ARE CALLED TO BE HEIRS.

 ROMANS 8:16-17, (16) "THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD:"

 (17) "AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS; HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; IF SO BE THAT WE SUFFER WITH HIM, THAT WE MAY BE ALSO GLORIFIED TOGETHER." 
           GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMS THE VALIDITY OF OUR ADOPTION, NOT BY SOME INNER, MYSTICAL VOICE, BUT BY THE FRUIT HE PRODUCES IS US AND THE POWER HE PROVIDES FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICE.

           THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE IN OUR LIVES WHEN THIS SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US, BECAUSE WE ALLOW CHRIST TO LIVE THROUGH OUR ACTIONS AND DEEDS.

           "JOINT-HEIRS": EVERY ADOPTED CHILD WILL RECEIVE BY DIVINE GRACE THE FULL INHERITANCE THAT CHRIST RECEIVES BY DIVINE RIGHT.

           "SUFFER WITH HIM": THIS IS PROOF OF THE BELIEVER'S ULTIMATE GLORY IN THAT HE SUFFERS, WHETHER IT COMES AS MOCKERY, RIDICULE, OR PHYSICAL PERSECUTION, BECAUSE OF HIS LORD, JESUS CHRIST.

           WOW, THIS IS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE THING TO CONSIDER, JOINT-HEIRS WITH JESUS CHRIST.     GOD'S WORD SAYS IT, YET WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TOO UNWORTHY AS WELL WE MAY BE.

           5.  HE IS CALLING US TO BE A "NEW CREATURE" 

 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:17 "THEREFORE, IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."

           YOU SEE, WE NO LONGER ARE OUR OWN.     WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB, JESUS CHRIST.

           WHEN A PERSON COMES INTO VITAL UNION WITH THE RISEN AND GLORIFIED LORD, THEY ARE A "NEW CREATURE", JOHN 3:3; JOHN 15:5; ROMANS 8:1, 9; GALATIANS 6:14-15, AND RECEIVES CHRIST IN A NEW WAY.

           "NEW CREATURE": THIS REFERS TO REGENERATION OR THE NEW BIRTH, EPHESIANS 2:1-3; TITUS 2:1-3; 1st PETER 1:23; 1st JOHN 1:29; 1st JOHN 3:9; 1st JOHN 5:4.

           "OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY": THIS INDICATES A DECISIVE BREAK WITH THE OLD SINFUL LIFE AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION.     AFTER A PERSON RECEIVES SALVATION (REGENERATION), OLD SINFUL VALUE SYSTEMS, PRIORITIES, BELIEFS, LOVES, AND PLANS ARE GONE.

           "BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW": NEW THINGS HAVE COME TO BE.     GOD DOES NOT MAKE NEW THINGS, HE TAKES THE OLD AND CHANGES IT.     THE BELIEVER'S NEW SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION OF EVERYTHING IS A CONSTANT REALITY FOR THEM AND THEY NOW LIVE FOR ETERNAL THINGS.

            WE ARE CLEAN, WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.     WE MUST HOWEVER, WALK IN THIS SALVATION THAT THE LORD JESUS PURCHASED FOR US.

           WE ARE NOT GOING TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY JUST START WALKING IN THIS NEW LIFE AND ALL OF ITS BENEFITS, WE HAVE TO BE TRAINED AND EDUCATED ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD. 

           WE HAVE TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND LOOK AT THINGS.     WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT GOD'S HELP.     HE HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS US TO TEACH AND GUIDE US.

           HIS WORD TELLS US WHO WE ARE AND TEACHES US HOW TO GET TO WHERE HE IS CALLING US TO SERVICE BY THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

           IF WE ARE GOING TO BE OBEDIENT AND FULFILL THE PLAN OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS.

           THE WILL OF GOD JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.     WE HAVE TO SEEK HIM OUT, AND SEEK HIS WILL IN ALL THINGS FOR OUR LIVES.

           CONCLUSION:

           MY INTENTION IN THIS STUDY IS NOT TO CONDEMN ANYONE, BUT TO ENCOURAGE US ALL TO FIND THE GIVEN PATH GOD HAS LAID OUT, AND SEEK HIS WILL IN ALL THINGS FOR OUR LIVES.

           WE CAN NEVER FIND TRUE HAPPINESS AND PEACE UNTIL WE DO.     THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START YOUR JOURNEY.

           GOD HAS A PATH FOR EACH OF US TO TAKE AND HE IS MERCIFUL AND WILL GIVE US THE GRACE TO DO WHAT EVER HE HAS CALLED US TO DO.

           WE CAN ONLY FIND TRUE PEACE, HAPPINESS AND REAL CONTENTMENT WHEN WE START ON THE PATH OF FAITH HE HAS FOR US.

           WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!

           MAYBE YOU ARE ONE WHO HAS NEVER REALLY GIVEN THIS MUCH THOUGHT.

           I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER FOR YOURSELF THIS THOUGHT.     THERE ARE MANY PATHS WE CAN FOLLOW, YET ONLY ONE IS THE CORRECT ONE.

          IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, THEN TAKE THE FIRST STEP, WHICH IS TO BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST.

           EARNESTLY PRAY AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU AND SAVE YOU.

          CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD.

          ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR TODAY!

          AMEN!