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July 24, 2019

Christian, Recognize Short-Term Uncertainty

10 Reasons Why You Should Open Your Bible

Listen to what God says about uncertainty in the letter of James:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. (James 4:13-14)

Here are people with plans: “Here is what I want to do: I am going to live in this or that city. I will to this college and pursue this career. We are going to marry and we are going to have children. We are going to plant a church. And, we would like to send out ten pastors, church planters, and missionaries every year!”

It is good to have plans, but remember, when you plan for the future, you don’t even know if you will be here tomorrow!

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:15)

Everything we hope to do in life depends on God’s grace and God’s strength, therefore the wise person says, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (Romans 4:15).

We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

The short life we have in this world is filled with uncertainty. God calls us to travel a winding path. None of us can see what is around the next corner – it may be a great trial, and it may be a great joy. We walk by faith, not by sight.

None of us knows for sure what will happen tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. But here’s the thing: I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but, in Jesus Christ, I do know the final outcome of my life.

That’s where our hope is. Our hope is set on the ultimate destiny that is absolutely secure because it has been revealed and it has been purchased in Jesus Christ.

[This sermon clip is from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Overcoming Evil with Steadiness,” from his series Overcoming Evil]


Colin Smith

Founder & Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near - So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on Twitter.
Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near - So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on Twitter.