January 2004 New Horizons

Finding God's Will for Your Life

by Phillip Jensen with Tony Payne

Some time ago, I spoke at a conference with forty medical students. I commenced proceedings by asking this question: "What are the important decisions that you will face in the next couple of years?" The answers were relatively predictable: marriage, which hospital to work in, what specialization to follow, what to do with all the money they would earn, how to cope with moral dilemmas such as abortion and euthanasia, if and when to go to the mission field, and so on. These sorts of decisions seem to preoccupy young Christians (and not-so-young Christians as well!). We want to find God's plan for us in these important decisions, so we look to the Scriptures for guidance. However, the Bible doesn't seem to be of much help. It only seems to speak in a general sense. It doesn't help me to decide whether to be a mechanic or a brain surgeon, or whether to marry Druscilla or Mary-Lou. The traditional approach to this problem has been to distinguish between God's general and special wills. God is said to have a ... Read more

Pitfalls in Finding God's Will for Your Life

by R. B. Kuiper

How am I to know the will of God concerning my life?" That question presents itself time and again to every Christian. Its answer is really very simple and can be stated with utmost brevity. The Word of God, the Bible, is our one and only infallible rule of life as well as of faith. To be sure, it must not be forgotten that for a true understanding of God's Word, the illumination of the Holy Spirit is indispensable. But it does not follow by any manner of means that God reveals his will to his children in two distinct and separate ways—by his Word and by his Spirit. He makes his will clear in just one way—by his Spirit through his Word. The fact remains that we have but one objective and infallible statement of the will of God concerning our lives. It is the Bible. Says the Westminster Confession of Faith (1.6): The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and ... Read more

Are You Wise?

by Joseph A. Keller

"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:13-18). Are you wise? James 3:13 issues a challenge: "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom." James 2:18 says, "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." In effect, then, James 3:13 says, "Show me your wisdom apart from gentleness, and I will show you my wisdom by my gentleness." ... Read more