Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
God has a plan for every person's life, but it is not to just meander. The word meander comes from the ancient Greeks for a river by that same name. The Meander River is located in present-day Turkey. The word evolved to mean anything that winds or zigzags aimlessly, and in that context, does not belong in the Christian vocabulary.
A relationship with Christ gives one purpose and meaning. The Apostle Paul tells us:
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God’s purpose for man is that he has a relationship with Him, gain salvation and eternal life, and live for Him. That is God’s general will. God’s specific will for you includes that but also includes works for which He has gifted you. I believe 90% of God’s will is found in the scripture and the other 10% is known by your commitment to do it. God gives gifts to all men (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). Some of us might know exactly what those gifts are. Most of us are probably yet to discover some of our gifts.
I once had someone ask me how to know all of his gifts. My answer was that we sometimes have to learn our gifts by trial and error. We just need to start doing what we know we can and be open to allow God to lead us for the future. You just might start teaching a group of young boys in Sunday School and in the process, God will show you that you are better at teaching young adults. But you would have never known that if you hadn’t started. There are two great sayings. One is, “Don’t just stand there, do something.” (2 Kings 5:8-14) The other is “Don’t just do something, stand there.” (2 Chronicles 20:17) Both are true at times. We just have to listen and be willing to obey God.
A young man told his pastor, “God has never spoken to me.” The pastor responded, “Son, have you been close enough to hear?” I suppose that is the greater question? 03-16-09
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