God is Sovereign and We are Not

James 4:13-17

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Introduction

I want to suggest that there are more atheists in America today that you think. I would even go so far as to say that there are more atheists in the church today than you think. An atheist is one who believes there is no God. And while probably all church members would never say they don't believe in God, many go through everyday life as if there is no God.

Think about your life. Do you live each day as if there was no God? Do you make business plans, go through all the details of making profit, and think it all depends on you? Do you make travel plans for next year and make all the reservations without giving thought the fact that you might not be here in a year's time? What is it that you work for? Are your priorities on making a paycheck and building new homes and having a comfortable retirement? I think these are some of the questions James would have us ask ourselves.

In our passage this morning, James is addressing some businessmen. They're making their travel and business plans for the future. And they're making those plans in such a way that they totally leave God out of the equation. They are self-sufficient, self-confident and arrogant.

People in the stock markets and on the news always talk about commodities, profit, and trading without reference to God. They go about life not giving the slightest thought of God. And yet we all have a tendency to do this. In our fallen state, we have a tendency to think we are self-sufficient and independent. James calls this type of living without reference to God is evil boasting. His challenge for these people, indeed his challenge for us, is that we have a proper understanding of who we are and who the Lord is. That proper understanding is this: God is sovereign and we are not.

The word sovereign is used to talk of kings or rulers. It refers to one who has ultimate power or authority. When we talk of God being sovereign, it means that God is God! Nothing is out of His control. He rules the world. He has a plan and He is carrying it out. Nothing is outside of His domain or power or authority. He owns everything He created, and He has rule over everything He owns. So that's the main point I want us to know, understand, and remember this morning: God is sovereign and we are not.

We Are Not Sovereign

Let's begin looking at the ways in which James shows we are not sovereign. Look at verses 14-15: You should talk in this way because "you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." I want to give you three truths from this text which remind us that we are not sovereign.

1) The future is unpredictable. 2) Life is short. 3) Death is certain.

1) The Future is Unpredictable

These men who were planning for travel, business, and a profit didn't take into account that they didn't know the future. They didn't really know what was going to happen, but they were self-confident in themselves that this was the way is was going to work out.

For all our detailed plans about tomorrow or the next day or even the next year, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. We don't know! Isn't that a humbling truth? You've made plans for next week, but you don't know what will happen. Your life is not in your hands. And its not just that we don't know what's going to happen, we can't really control what's going to happen either. We can try our best to make something happen, but control is out of our hands.

Psalm 33:10 says, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." Psalm 146:3-4 says, "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish." Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

The future is unpredictable. We can see that we are not sovereign in this. But not only this, we can also see that we are not sovereign in that life is short.

2) Life is Short

James says that "you are a mist that appears for a little time" (v. 4). Other versions say "you are a vapor." The idea here is that of a "puff of smoke" that is here one moment and gone the next. Think about how the bright, hot sun burns away the morning fog. Think about how you start your car on those frosty winter mornings. The vapor comes out of the exhaust pipe, goes up in the air for just a moment, and then it vanishes. It's gone. You can't grasp it. It's there for a moment and then it's gone.

Psalm 39:5-6 says, "Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow!"

Youth, your life is a vapor. It is short. It's here one minute and gone the next. Don't waste it. Don't let it slip through your fingers. This goes for all of us. Life is short! You don't know if you'll wake up in the morning or not. I could die in my sleep tonight. I could get in a car accident this afternoon and the vapor vanishes!

Listen, one way we live life without reference to God, is by living how we please now and promising to repent later on in life. You say, "I have time. I will pursue my own pleasure now in my young days and not worry about the things of God. I'll give my life to Him later and serve Him when I get older." The Scripture says that is foolish! You may not have that much time left! Your life is just a mist that is here today and gone tomorrow. Don't waste it.

The future is unpredictable and life is short. The third way we can see that we are not sovereign is that death is certain.

3) Death is Certain

Verse 14 again says, "you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Death is certain. Unless the Lord returns, each one of us will taste death. For some it is quick and painless. For others it is prolong and full of suffering. But the truth is that each one of us will one day face death. Have you come to terms with the fact that you will die one day. Everyone should think about their death. We shouldn't avoid it. We shouldn't ignore this truth. Otherwise it will sneak up on us and we will not be prepared for it.

Are you prepared for your dying day? Have you given consideration to your death? Each one of us must face it. The psalmist prays to the Lord, "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Ps 90:12). Let us each number our days, remembering that we don't know what tomorrow will bring; remembering that life is short; and remembering that death is certain. We are not sovereign. But God is.

God is Sovereign

Let's now consider from this text that God is sovereign. Instead of saying "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" we should say (verse 15) "If the Lord wills we will live and do this or that." We can put this into two statements that show that God is sovereign.

1) If the Lord wills, then we will live. 2) If the Lord wills, then we will do this or that.

1) If the Lord wills, then we will live.

While it is true that we don't know how long we have to live, God does. He knows when your dying day is.

In Psalm 139 we read of God's all encompassing knowledge. Verse 16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Do you see His sovereignty? All your days were written in God's book before even one of them had come to pass. Before your mother even knew she was pregnant, God knew every one of your days.

But here's the really striking thing. God not only knows your days, but He also is the one who determines your days. Look at what the verse says, "If the Lord wills, then we will live." We will live if the Lord allows us to live. If not, then we will die. Another pastor has said it this way, "You are immortal until God's work for you is done."

In Matthew 10:29 Jesus says, "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Jesus' argument is that not even a small bird falls to the ground and dies apart from the Father's will. Aren't you much more valuable than birds?! Yes, you are. Your life is in God's hands.

And we say this, right? When someone is dying and afraid or begins to worry, we may reassure them that their life is in God's hands. Or as Mrs. Edna has reminded me, "it's up to the Lord whether I go or stay." We teach our kids to sing, "He's got the whole word in His hands." Even though our lives are short and death is certain, we are in God's hands. He is sovereign over our days.

But not only is God sovereign over life and death, He is sovereign over our plans for the future.

2) If the Lord wills, then we will do this or that

Look at the second part of that phrase in verse 15; "If the Lord wills, then we will do this or that."

If you didn't write these verses down earlier when I pointed them out, then write them down now. Psalm 33:10 says, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." Psalm 146:3-4 says, "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish."

I want to focus in on two verses in particular: Proverbs 16:9 and Proverbs 19:21. First let's look at Proverbs 16:9 - "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

This verse teaches that when we plan (and we should plan for the future) it is ultimately not up to us if we succeed or fail. It is up to God. It will be the Lord that establishes or dis-establishes our steps.

Now also look at Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

We have many plans. Plans for this afternoon or evening... plans for tomorrow... plans for the next week and next month and next year... plans for family and business and pleasure. We have many plans. But ultimately it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand, not our plans. Have you realized this before? Not only is your life in God's hands, your plans are in God's hands. God is sovereign and we are not.

Our Response to this Knowledge

So, what should our response to these things be? What difference does it make that God is sovereign and we are not? How should we respond? At least four ways.

1) It should cause us to worship God.

Our first response (and I pray that you have already done this) is to worship God in wonder. When Paul wrote to the Romans about the mystery of salvation coming for God's people he had to stop and worship.

Listen to what Paul says in Romans 11:32-36: "God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

As you think about the fact that your life is held by the Almighty Creator of the universe and that He knew you before you were born, you should be drawn to worship Him. Don't let this truth go over your head. Meditate on it. Ponder it. And worship God.

2) It should change the way we think.

Because God is sovereign and we are not, we should humbly submit to God's purposes. That's what James is telling these businessmen to do. Don't think you're in ultimate control. Know that God is in ultimate control.

We are in a building campaign, "Growing Together, Building on Faith." We want to be a lighthouse for the community and we think this is a way we can do it. And if the Lord wills, we will raise the money and we will build it. That should be how we think. And as you think about how you want to give for this fund, you should plan (sacrificially) what you would like to give and say, "If the Lord wills I will live, and give this or that and fulfill my pledge." It might be His plan that you give less (hope I don't get in trouble), but it might be His plan that you give more.

Also, this knowledge should cause us to go to God in trust. We shouldn't doubt God and His plans. We should trust Him. If we are Christians, we shouldn't be afraid that death will come suddenly and snatch us away. We can be confident that God won't be surprised by it. We can be sure that we are in God's hands.

Trust in the Savior Jesus Christ. When Jesus was on this earth, He knew the circumstances leading up to His death. He knew how it would happen. He knew that Judas would betray Him into the hands of those who would kill Him. He knew death was near. And He knew what a cruel death He would die.

What would we do if we knew all that? We would try to avoid the pain at all costs. We would try to escape our trials. Or maybe we would become worried and afraid and completely fall apart.

Here's where Jesus is all together different than us. He knew these things were coming, but He didn't try to escape the pain. He didn't try to run away from the beatings. He didn't try to avoid the crown of thorns place on His head. He didn't try to escape the cross. He could have, you know? They were mocking Him. He could have come down and destroyed all of His enemies. But He didn't. He endured the suffering and pain on that cross willingly. Jesus Himself says that they couldn't take His life if He didn't let them: "I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father" (Jn 10:17-18). He faithfully trusted in His Father. Jesus died on the cross so that you would have forgiveness and eternal life.

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, you do not need to be afraid of death. You do not need to be afraid because you don't know what tomorrow brings. You don't need to be afraid because your life is short. If you trust in Jesus, then "you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:3).

If you have turned from your own selfishness and trust in Jesus Christ, this promise is for you... this promise is for Jesus' sheep. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand" (Jn 10:27-29).

This is how we should think. Because God is sovereign and we are not, we should humbly submit to His purposes and trust Him.

3) It should change the way we speak.

The way we speak goes along with the way we think. Our speech comes from what we think (unless you're one of those who speaks without thinking... and if that's you stop it). This application comes directly from the text. You shouldn't make plans without considering God. We shouldn't live without reference to God. Instead we ought to say, "If the Lord wills we will live and do this or that."

James doesn't mean that we have to say this every single time we plan on doing something. We should sometimes... to remind ourselves of this truth that God is God and we are not. We should speak in such a way so that others know our plans depend on God and not on ourselves.

4) It should change the way we live.

Finally, and here's where I want to really challenge you, all this knowledge should cause us to live with a focused urgency for Jesus Christ.

Even most people who are not Christians recognize that life is short and death is certain. But what do they do with this knowledge? They say "Let's eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die." They live it up for their own pleasures. They try to have as much fun as possible and as much comfort as possible because they know life on this world doesn't last forever.

How is your life different than that? If this is you, then you are guilty of living arrogantly. If that's you then you're living a life of atheism. You live as though there is no God.

But here's how it should cause us to live. Since we don't know what tomorrow will bring... since we know we might not be here tomorrow, we should live with a focused urgency for the glory of Jesus Christ. It should be a life focused on Christ and His mission. And it should be lived with urgency.

Here are a couple of points for practical application:

Businessmen (I use this to include everyone who works): What are your goals in your work? To gain power and influence for yourself? To get a big paycheck so you can enjoy life? To just get through the workday? Since life is short shouldn't you be living for the glory of Christ by urgently focusing on how you can be an ambassador for Him in the workplace? Shouldn't you be trying to figure out all kinds of ways to show Christ as the all-sufficient Savior in your workplace?

Grandparents: Yes, I know you love to spoil your grandkids and let them do all those things that their parents won't let them do. That's fine. But, listen (and I don't mean this in a negative or demeaning way), you know better than your kids and grandkids that life is short. So shouldn't you be pointing your grandkids to Jesus Christ? Shouldn't you be trying to figure out ways that you as a grandparent can leave a legacy of faith in Jesus for them? Do you want to just be known as the grandparent who always had good candy, or do you want them to remember that you were passionate about Jesus Christ!!!???

Teenagers and Children: I know you want to be accepted. You want to be a part of the group. I wish you would just say WHO CARES! Who cares about being the cool kid? Who cares about what others think!? I'm going to serve Jesus. I'm going to serve Him at school. I'm going to serve Him in our community. I'm going to go across the ocean to Africa and be a missionary and stay there my whole life... because I love Jesus... and because the time is short. Missionaries have to come from somewhere you know? Why not here? Why not you?

Mission: And while I'm on that subject, why not you adult? Why won't you go? Why won't you pour out your life for your neighbor? Why won't you sacrifice for the sake of Christ's mission?

The time is short! Life is short! Spend it wisely. Don't waste it!

I want to close by quoting the words of a song by Steven Curtis Chapman. He wrote this song before the tragic death of his little 5 year old daughter. This is the foundation that we need to have when trials come. This is the foundation we must have when we're making plans and in the course of everyday life.

God is God by Steven Curtis Chapman

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must

On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through
Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone