"Why Doesn't God Make It Clear?"
PRACTICE
Our “practice” of the faith which means “living out our faith” (conduct, lifestyle, discipline, responsibilities, relationships, etc.) is also important in fulfilling our destiny (Ephesians chapters 4-6). I mentioned that God’s plan for our lives usually “unfolds” before us as we walk with Him. Folks, this is a vital understanding in order to obtain the ever elusive “peace” for our lives. God’s purpose for us is continuously unveiled as we follow Him day by day…when we take each day as a new opportunity to glorify God…when we obey God in the “little” things of life…when we seek to please Him in all that we put our hands to do.
I oftentimes here Christians say such comments as “Why doesn’t God make
His plan clear to me? Why doesn’t He tell me what He wants me to do? How can He expect me to follow Him when I don’t know the way? Why doesn’t God show me a vision or a dream or speak in an audible voice to me?” Well, after all of these years of ministry, I think I can finally share an answer. And folks, once again, this truth, as they all do, will set us free. It is not as much about knowing God’s specific will for our lives as it is having hearts prepared for God’s purpose.
EXAMPLE
If God revealed to us in a vivid dream a plan for our lives that we were not ready or willing to receive, we would find a million excuses for failing to fulfill such a plan like “I should not have eaten that ‘spicy grand taco burrito quesadilla all-in-one special right before bedtime.’” We might have disputed the timing, “Ok, God. I get it. But that cannot be for the present. That must be a vision for the future. I’ll wait for the right time in my life.” (How many know the “right time” never comes) We might have flatly refused, “No way. That’s not for me. Thanks anyway God. Give that job to somebody else.” Since my heart was not yet desirous of the things of God, I probably would never have accepted the mission in the first place. If I did, I would have given up or faded away far before the fulfillment of my purpose. Because I was not yet strong enough in faith to succeed, any adversity or setbacks would have doomed my assignment.
So now you see why my heart (my “entire being”) must connect with God’s heart in order to fulfill my destiny. My thoughts must be God’s thoughts on the matter. My desire must be God’s desire. This is the reason the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:16 (GNT)
16 (A)As the scripture says,
“Who knows the mind of the Lord?
Who is able to give him advice?”
We, however, have the mind of Christ.
As we walk with the Lord daily, we begin to become one with Him. We begin to think HIS thoughts. We begin to dream HIS dreams. We begin to act as HE would act. We begin to plan according to HIS will. We begin to see the world through HIS eyes. We begin to desire what HE desires.
Yes, there are occasional visions and dreams and miraculous signs recorded in the Scriptures for clarity of purpose. God understands our doubts and fears and vulnerabilities. So He may provide us with some sort of sign or clarification regarding a special ministry or task. However, I do not believe that sign should be expected or even considered necessarily anything to gloat about. Perhaps it was the only way for God to get a message through to our stubborn, arrogant minds and hearts! Usually (not always) it is a sign given to an already willing and devoted child of God to illuminate them about a specific, unusual task or calling.
CONCLUSION
Through faith in the sacrifice of Christ we become children of God, the King of kings. Royalty runs through our blood. We need to understand our position in Christ, “who we are” in Christ.
God wants to be one with us. The closer we follow God and grow in our personal relationship with Christ day by day, the more our thoughts and plans and actions will coincide with God’s. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, God within us, we have the capability of a union with God. Our desires line up with His desires. It is no longer “I have to do God’s will, “but “I want to do God’s will!” The difference may initially appear subtle or slight, but in actuality it is quite significant.
Let me put it in clearer terms. If God wants us to do His will and wants us to know His will, then where must the problem lie? You got it. With us. Therefore, logically, the only reason we do not know God’s will for our lives is because we do not want to know God’s will for our lives. Our thoughts and desires are not yet intertwined with God’s thoughts and desires. We are not yet one! But we can be…if we want to.
