Pastor Sabrina Simmer
Keymar Wesleyan Church
(11/1) I love fall, the crisp air, the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet, warm bonfires, crisp apples, tart cider and best of all the deep red, bright yellow, and vibrant orange colors stretched across the mountain sides. Fall signifies a change in the seasons. I know we can find beauty in all seasons, but fall is my favorite. I find it amazing that the God who created you and I also created this beauty for us to enjoy. Think of the planning God does and the craftsmanship skills God has to be able to show us His love through things we can enjoy. Everything God did, or created was thought out and planned out by Him.
That is a big statement because basically what I am saying then is that God made no accidents. He did not put things together haphazardly in fact He created everything for a purpose. The Bible tells us 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."
I love this verse, if you have ever wondered if you ever or even matter to God this verse should tell you that you most certainly do. As adults we plan out the things that matter. For instance a wedding, retirement party, children’s birthdays, special events, if you are a little like me your grocery list. You plan things out because you care and you want it to turn out in the best possible way it can.
The same goes for God. Remember in Jeremiah 29:11 He promises, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He has planned for you, you have a purpose, you were thought of, and found worthy. Like planning for anything we do, God planned for you too, your mistakes, your successes and everything in between. If we mess up and sin against Him, He has planned for a way to help us get out. If we make a mistake He does not scrap us and think "ah man now I have to start from the beginning." Aren't we all thankful for that? Proverbs 19:21 says, "A person may have many plans in their heart. But the Lord’s purpose wins out in the end."
We may change our minds left and right, we may make wrong choices here and there, but through all of that even when we may turn the wrong way God promises that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
I notice 3 promises in this verse.
1. God began a good work in us. We did not happen by accident, we were planned out. Planned out for a purpose, planned out for us to enjoy success. Not to harm, but to give us a hope and a future.
2. He will bring that good work He started to completion. He is not going to give up on you. God promises to follow through with what He said He would do. This we know we can trust as He has many accounts recorded in His word of Him following through. Like a promised son to Abraham in his old age, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the earth. He promised to lead the Israelites into a land filled with milk and honey, and most importantly He promised to send the Messiah, Jesus Christ to die for our sins. God has done all of that and so much more. We have a God who has been, is, and will be faithful to fulfill His promises, and if you are not sure start in the gospel of John and you will read how Jesus fulfills all of the prophecies foretold in the Old Testament.
3. God promises that completion will be finished when Jesus returns. The verse does not say before Jesus comes, or after Jesus comes, but when Jesus comes. He promises to continue to mold and shape us into the person HE created us to be no matter how much we mess up.
The God who started a good work in you continues it throughout your lifetime and it becomes finished on the day you meet Him face to face. God’s work for you started at Christ's death on the cross when He died for your sins, taking your place, your punishment upon Himself. His work for you begins when you first believe in Him. you are saved by your Faith alone. As you place your faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit comes to guide and lead you, helping you to be more like Christ every day. In Philippians 1:6 Paul uses these words to describe Christian growth and maturity that begins when we accept Jesus and it continues until Christ’s return.
The colorful leaves of fall create a beautiful picture of color for us to take in and enjoy. They mark an end to one season and the beginning of another season, but in the middle as they change and glow in the sunlight they bring beauty to a season. I look forward to the colorful leaves each year, and love to go up into the mountains to take it all in, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at each new tree, seeing the bright colors of orange, deep red, or bright yellow with my kids and husband. It is a time of thankfulness as I am grateful that as God planned out this creation and planned out my life He thought of the little joys He could give us here and there to remind us of His promise, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
If He puts that much thought into the placement of trees just to give us a beautiful display of color even just for a short season, how much more does He have planned for the ones He created in His own image? As the verse says, God knows the future He is the one who planned it all out, and it promises that His plans are good and full of hope.
What does that mean for you? How do you know you are a part of His plans? Is He the one you put your trust in? Do you believe He is the one who provides for you and do you invite Him along asking Him to lead and guide you as you plan out the things in your life?
If you do then you can have boundless hope! This does not mean that we will not have pain or suffering or even hardship in our lives. For even Christ had hardship, suffered, and died. But He promises to see us through to a glorious conclusion, all we need to do is say yes to follow Him.
To learn more about Keymar Wesleyan Chuch visit them at www.keymarwesleyan.org or better yet, join them for Sunday service at 1011 Francis Scott Key Hwy, Keymar
