"IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES" Text: James 4: 13-17

"IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES" Text: James 4: 13-17

It is reported that Colonel Rahl, commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George

Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn't bother to read it until his card game was finished. Then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but it was too late. His procrastination caused many of his men to be killed, and the rest of the regimen to be captured.

Later, Nolbert Quayle gave a report of the incident, and said, "Only a few minutes delay cost him his life, his honor, and the liberty of his soldiers.

I. THE LENGTH OF OUR LIFE (V. 13,14a,16)

In these verses, James examines the length of our life in a heart probing matter. By examining the span of our days, and our life, he takes into

consideration the:

A. COMPLEXITY OF LIFE (13,14,16)

1. Speaking to Christian businessmen in his congregation.

2. But only those who have a plan, a place, a period, a program, and a purpose that is minus God.

1. THERE UNFORTUNATE VIEW (13,16)

a. Men were looking into the future and making specific plans as to what was going to happen.

b. However, they planned their future without including God in it.

2. AN UNFORESEEN FUTURE (14a)

a. They need not rejoice in their plans, places, purposes, and programs because they may not come to pass.

b. They said, "We Will." / God said, "You do not even know." They planned for a whole year, yet they weren't even sure of the next day.

c. They thought they were independent, but God thought they were ignorant.

d. James' point is not that it's unwise to plan a future, but it's unwise to plan a future without God.

l. Solomon testified of the unforeseen future, when he reminded us,

( Proverbs 27:1) "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

B. CERTAINTY OF LIFE (14b,c)

James has wisely informed us that, life is complex, and there are some things about life that we do not know.

However, in verse 14, he shows that life is also certain, and there are some things that we do know.
We can be certain that:

1. LIFE IS SIGNIFICANT "What is your life?"

a. This, without a doubt, is one of the most profound, probing, and powerful questions in the Word of God. He is referring to a precious thing: life. However, in asking this question, James proves that life is a significant thing. For you notice the word itself, "life."

b. Life is itself, a precious gift. It has been loaned to us, and extended to us from our Creator.

c. Therefore, anyone who takes for granted the gift of life, or treats life with a careless attitude, doesn't realize how significant life is.

2. LIFE IS SHORT "It is even a vapour…"

1Ch 29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

Job 7:7—"Remember that my life is wind.."

Psalm 39:5—"..thou hast made my days as a handbreadth"

Psalm 102:3—"For my days are consumed like smoke.."

II. THE LORD OF OUR LIFE (V. 15)

A. GOAL WE OUGHT TO SET (15a)

1. The goal of our life ought to be "if the Lord will," we will do this, this, and this.

A. GAIN WE OUGHT TO SEEK (15b)

"We must empty our lives of proud planning

B. PROBLEM OF EXCLUDING GOD FROM LIFE (17b)

1. There is not only a priority of including God in life, but there is a problem of excluding God from life.