Our Unfolding Plan for Heaven....Step One!

I began this series of the following blogs with this thought...ARE YOU PREPARING FOR ETERNITY? If so, WHAT R UR PLANS? It is a study of 2 Peter 1: 3-11 which reads from the Amplified Bible...

3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to....

And this is our first stepping stone for our study for the next four or five blog posts. So let's begin!

The apostle Peter is telling us as followers of Christ that we have EVERYTHING WE NEED to live for Christ in the crooked and decrepit world....and in so doing, we are making our plans for Heaven as we live out our lives for Christ each day. It is in that living that God works His will and His way for both our earthly service now; but also, for our Heavenly service to come. And I believe that will become much clearer as we travel this road of study in our next several blog post....so please come back over the next few days or so to see how this might be beneficial to you as you live for Christ in this world...and quite possibly the next?

So, what is the first admonition of Peter....to approach our dynamic spiritual life with great DILIGENCE as we make every effort to exercise and grow our faith by applying the "tools" that God has given us to use in our efforts to live, to be and to love like Christ. But, how is that affected by planning and what does God's Word say regarding this exercise we call, PLANNING?

 Our first hint comes from Proverbs 21:5, that reads: "The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor." (CSB) or "A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 CSB); however, one of my favorite's comes from James 4:13-15 where he warns us of making boastful plans....Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,” whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and make plans to do this or that. (Modern English Version)But the one who spoke definitively regarding making plans was Jesus himself, in Sermon on the Mount, where He told His ever-growing throng of followers in Matthew 6:33-34, But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about (your plans for) tomorrow. Your plans (will be taken care of by following God's will.) Believe me when I say, you will have enough to worry about today. (My edification of the Contemporary Version Bible)

So in closing this first blog today regarding making plans, both for now and for the Kingdom to come, know this; JESUS HAS THIS UNDER HIS CONTROL....and if we change the word "food" and replace it with the word "plans" in John 6:27, it would read as follows:

 Don’t work for the plans that perish but for the plans that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”

I hope you will continue this journey with me as we make our eternal plans for the jobs we would most like to do when we are called HOME to be with Jesus....there, where we will serve Him in our Heavenly domain, doing the work set before us and as ALWAYS, FOR OUR GOOD AND GOD'S GLORY!!!

See You Tomorrow,

WPQ

Preparing for Eternity....What's Your Plan?

It is one of the most definitive actions that occurs each year at this time...the turning of the page of the calendar as we say "Goodbye" to last year and welcome in all the joys, trials, speed bumps and triumphs that surely await us in this NEW YEAR....for us, this is 2026!

I am currently teaching my Sunday School class at McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, a series, I have entitled, Preparing for Eternity....What's Your Plan? I mean, after all, isn't the start of a brand new year front loaded with what many call, NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS....those well-thought out plans we make to improve ourselves, our station in life, our retirement portfolio or some other meaningful endeavor that bears our attention.

Yes, we call them, RESOLUTIONS, but aren't they really well-intentioned plans that we believe will drastically improve some area of our life ? And if truth be told, our Heavenly Father is on point with this mentality.  In fact, He gives us forewarning that He has a plan for our lives as given to us by the prophet, Jeremiah, who shared this with God's elect in Jeremiah 29:11....For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) 

So if God has a PLAN(and He's the Creator and Ruler of the Universe), what should that say to you and me about making plans...not for just these days on this dusty orb, but for the hope that lies before us....HEAVEN! SO THE QUESTION I PUT TO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS,

What are your Plans for Eternity? 

Now for many that may seem like a silly question, right? But let's stop and think about who our God is and how He reigns in this world and the next? First, we know from Scripture, our Heavenly Father is a God who ordained man to work. In Genesis 2:19-20, we read, ^{19 "}Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals." So, naming the animals was Adam's first job as he began to work for His Creator...and that same mindset that God has work for us to do for our good and His Glory has not changed. It will follow us to Heaven, as God gives each of us work to do in His heavenly kingdom. So my question to you is, what do you want to do for God when you get to Heaven and what plans have you made to be prepared for that work?

 

Now, we all know that making plans to do ANYTHING for God has a caveat....simply put, ARE THE PLANS I HAVE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL? And once again, God's Word speaks directly to that question in James 4:13-15 as follows.... ^" Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." (NIV)

So, our plans for Heaven totally rest in the WILL OF GOD; however, it is my personal belief that God will want to use us in His kingdom by using the talents, interests and joys of our life well-lived on earth, so that we might bring to fruition His will in His Kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, why not plan for work in Heaven by doing what God has gifted you to do as you sojourn here on this dusty orb, we call our temporary home? Plan to use that beautiful voice to sing praises to the King here on earth so that you might join the angelic chorus in Heaven. Or use that willingness to share the Good News of Christ here and now, so that you might be a messenger of God's love in His glorious kingdom as you worship Him with words of joy, love and praise.

Now, I don't know what talents or gifts of service God has bestowed on you; but this one thing I do know...GOD'S GIFTS OF SERVICE, NOW, WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED AS WE SEEK TO SERVE HIM IN OUR HEAVENLY HOME....AND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE A PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS GREAT AND AWESOME WILL...SO,

What's your plan for Heaven? And if you need some help in "fleshing" out a plan that prepares you for service in His Heavenly kingdom, be sure to come back to get the rest of what God has given you to help in getting ready for later.... by living for HIM in the here and now!!!!

Plans in motion....following God's Heavenly directions,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day....

If you working for the Lord
On this earth, both here and now;
But you're not sure if you've got this;
And you're wondering if somehow?
 
The Lord is sending you mixed signals,
So you struggle to understand?
What could God want from you?
What truly is His plan?
 
His plan is plain and simple;
He 's working for your good.
A plan that brings you hope and joy,
Living for Him as you should.
 
So don't become discouraged,
Or pout if things don't go your way.
Remember, He has a plan for you,
So you need not be dismayed.
 
Commit your life in service to Him,
So that in all you do or say...
God's blessings will flow down to you
As you lead others to walk His way!!!
 
WPQ © January 2026

 

 

 

R U Running from....CHANGE?

It has been said there is only one thing in this world that remains constant…and that is CHANGE!!!!

If that is true, then it behooves one of wisdom to prepare for the inevitable. We are continually  inundated by both political parties to expect change. The upcoming mid-term elections already have all the political pundits, spewing their propaganda about the outcome of the elections that are still over 11 months away, before many of us cast our votes for new governors, state and local representatives...and most of all the Senate and House of Representatives races that will determine the balance of power for the remaining years before our next Presidential election in 2028. Yes, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE AND WE CANNOT RUN AND HIDE FROM THAT MENACE WE CALL..... CHANGE!

In fact, we only have to read the daily headlines to see that our world is in a constant state of fluctuation….financial disarray, rising and falling levels in the stock market, unemployment, spiraling food and health costs…. All producing…change…Change….CHANGE.

Now for most of us, change is something of a dirty word, or at least one that makes us very uncomfortable. We strive to live our lives in a calm and peaceful manner; free from the upheavals of change. Yet, try as we might, change happens! In fact, God’s word tells us that change is coming; but praise be, it also tells us who is in charge of that change.

“I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends the good times and the bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. Isaiah 45: 7 NLT

Our typical response to change is one of fear and trepidation. We all too often begin to look at our circumstances rather than our provision. Unfortunately, change seems to always bring fear before it births faith. Fear seems to focus on the worst rather than hold claim to the best.

When God chooses to interrupt the natural flow of our life with change or something that we have never encountered before….we choose panic over praise. James, the Lord’s brother, wrote in his letter, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (change, my interpretation), for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Yes, when calamity or change occurs that is unsettling or disheartening, we can view the presence of the problem as the absence of God ….and our simplistic response is to try and run away from the mess we find ourselves in. Or… we can do the unexpected; we can praise Him from whom all blessings and problems flow!

We can take comfort in and find joy in the midst of any trial if we will but remember that God is on our side…and that He is in control. He is working all things out for our good… so that we may be perfect and complete in Him. We still have a responsibility to do what we CAN....but when we reach the end of what we can do, it is time to realize that what is left is not what we can't do; rather it is what God can and will do on our behalf. 

So….change is coming and you have two distinct choices….Prepare to Panic … or… Praise His Provision…for no matter the magnitude of the change that comes…our God is sufficient to meet and exceed ALL OUR NEEDS.

Standing firm….Praising His Provision,

WPQ

Poem for the day:

Sufficient for today are the problems we can see

As we wait upon the Lord in surrendered humility.

Never knowing what the future holds 
Nor where life's roads may lead...

We follow in His footsteps...we listen...trust...believe!

We hear His voice telling each of us 

That change will come our way;

For we need not fear life's outcomes

If we trust  Him and obey.

So welcome change with open arms

For no matter life's ups or downs;

When you're trusting in God's Holy Word....
You're planted on SOLID GROUND!

WPQ © October 2018