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Transcript: Welcome to “5 Minutes with Pastor Lutzer.” I’m so glad that you joined us again today as we conclude our study on the will of God. If you were with us in previous episodes you know that we emphasized that phrase “the will of God,” which occurs several times in scripture. And it is my contention that if we do the will of God as it is revealed in the Bible, He will guide us in those matters that are unrevealed. Today, I want to just share a number of suggestions to you as you contemplate making decisions.
Number one: Don’t necessarily think that all that you need to do is to follow your heart. Our hearts mislead us. A number of years ago I was at the Lake of the Ozarks and I was lying on a blow up mattress on a lake and I closed my eyes for ten or fifteen minutes and then when I opened them it took me a while to get my bearings because I had drifted off far from where I had begun. Don’t simply drift in life. I think, for example, of Jonah. He could have said to himself, “Well, it must be the will of God for me to catch this ship on its way to Tarshish because here I am at Joppa. There’s a ship that is waiting. I have money.” Don’t think to yourself that just because you follow your desires, you may be doing God’s will. Always remember that God’s will especially is found in the lives of those who genuinely seek it.
There’s another principle that I was actually taught in high school and that is, don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate. I remember a young woman who dropped out of high school because she was given a job at a local grocery store. That was very short sighted. What you and I need to do is to think long-term as to what the will of God might be and think through what we’d like to do in such a way that would please the Lord. I I want to emphasize something that someone once told me, and that is—think today in 20 years, what will you wish that you had done today? That’s really a good question. In 20 years’ time, what do you think you will wish you had done today? Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.
Finally, I want to emphasize: Don’t make quick decisions, especially if they are very important. Let me give you a bit of advice that I personally have followed many many times. You know, the Bible says in James 1:5 that if you lack wisdom ask of God and He’ll give it to you. So here’s what I have done. If I am faced with a decision, I say, “Lord, here’s A and here’s B. My plan is to do A. But if I’m wrong, I’m going to give you plenty of time to close that door. And so often doors have closed and doors have opened because I have given God time to show me what His will is. Wait on the Lord. And when you do that He does indeed guide us.
So, where does this all end? Well, what we need to do is to line up the word of God, also the wisdom of the people of God, and circumstances. And above all, we have to live in such a way that each day we wake up and say, “Lord, what is your will today?” You live that way, God will guide you. He will guide you with His eye upon you. The will of God is not as mysterious as we make it out to be. Obey the scriptures and a lot of other things will fall into place. Thanks so much for joining us today and I certainly hope that you join us again next time as we continue “5 Minutes with Pastor Lutzer” but as for today, you just go with God.