Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’
From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned, that I will do.
(Isaiah 46:9-11 NIV)
Sometimes the path of life comes to a point of great complexity. Maybe that’s a project for a graduate degree, or a wedding, or a book you’re writing, or… Right now, for me, my very complex project is a week-long arts day camp for middle and high school students. In the past two days I’ve met with the leader of the guitar workshop, the leader of the songwriting workshop, the leaders of the drama department, the camp band and vocalists, and the high schoolers who are serving as hospitality ambassadors. I have had a few people I’ve asked to do things for camp who were unable to say “yes,” but I’ve also been very surprised at some people who have come out of the proverbial woodwork to volunteer at camp! This has been a huge blessing to me.
I still have a couple of weeks of intense preparatory work to do to finish getting ready for the camp itself. But I can see how this plan of God’s for this camp is coming together. I am super excited about some new ideas that I think will help connect with this year’s campers. And I’m overjoyed at the spiritual seeds we can plant within these young people for Kingdom purposes.
I expect Noah and his family were thrilled to see the beauty of creation once again after more than a year on that ark. I’m sure that Joshua and Caleb were super excited about finally being able to enter the Promised Land. The majesty, splendor, beauty and extravagance of Solomon’s Temple must have exceeded all the dreams of David’s generation. The level of celebration would have been very high after Esther interceded for and rescued the Jews from Haman’s vitriol. Of course, Jesus’s resurrection was astounding to his original followers, and the joy they felt must have been over the top. What do all these things have in common? Each of them was a plan that God oversaw and came together. There were times in that plan that were very difficult for the people involved. There were detours, misses, and near-misses and plenty of turns in the road. There were sinful people, attacking enemies, misunderstandings, and unfortunate incidents on the way to the end of the story, but God knew all that. God could see how everything was weaving itself together to create HIStory.
This camp is just one microcosm of God’s Plan throughout HIStory, but it shows his sovereignty and the ways in which he already knows the beginning from the end. Your “project” may be different – and more challenging – than mine, but it’s always reassuring to know that God knows the beginning and the end. His purposes will stand. What he has put in motion he will bring about – even if its process is messy and difficult. What he has planned he will do. Thanks be to God!
Alpha and Omega,
Thank you that you are God; there is no other. Your purposes and plans are perfect. Thank you that your grace covers the places where we humans mess up, and that you can use our messes to still bring about your Story. Help us to remember that you have made known the past, present, and future and your purposes will stand. Give us strength and patience for the journeys we are on, and give us joy and peace as we travel them. Order our steps, Dear Lord, as we do your will. Holy Spirit, help us to walk worthy and fulfill the callings the Father has for us, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Order my steps in Your Word, Dear Lord
Lead me, guide me every day
Send Your anointing, Father, I pray
Order my steps in Your Word, YES
Order my steps in Your Word
Humbly I ask Thee, teach me Thy will
While You are working, I will keep still
Satan is busy, God is real
Order my steps in Your Word, YES
Order my steps in Your Word
I want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill
Yes, order my steps Lord
And I’ll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing
But You are still the same
If You order my steps, I’ll praise Your name
(from “Order My Steps” by Glenn Burleigh)
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6 NIV)