“The fact is, God doesn't have a blueprint for our life.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-04) from his book, Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe (p. 57). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

But God does have a blueprint for my life.  Doesn't he?

Larry says, “The problem stems from a concept many of us have been taught from birth. We've been led to believe that God has a highly detailed blueprint for our life that includes a specific, preordained job, career, house, spouse, car— and everything in between. As a result, we spend a lot of time looking for that special person, place, or thing that we think God has set aside just for us. It's the egg we hunt for. But that egg doesn't exist. The idea of a detailed blueprint for our life is a myth. It confuses God's omniscience with his divine will. No question, God knows everything, down to the number of hairs on our head. But that doesn't mean he has a plan for how many we have or that we're in rebellion if we try to replace some of the ones that go missing. The fact is, God doesn't have a blueprint for our life. Never has. Never will. He does, however, have a game plan for our life. And the difference is important.”

Now you know what a blueprint is.  If the contractor doesn’t totally do what the blueprint says then there is going to be a real problem.  

Larry says, “A game plan is very different. Rather than spelling out everything in detail, it sets forth general guidelines and principles, with lots of freedom and flexibility for adjustments as the game unfolds. Let's take a football game as an example. On-the-fly adjustments are built into every play. What starts out as a post pattern turns into something else altogether if the linebackers blitz or the receivers aren't open. No quarterback throws the ball to a well-covered receiver just because that's the way the play was originally designed (unless he wants to sit on the bench or his name is Brett Favre). Instead he tucks the ball away and heads for the sidelines or up the field. Now, that doesn't mean it's a case of ‘Do as you please.’ The quarterback can't decide to run out of bounds and then sneak back onto the field. He can't throw a pass to an ineligible receiver. Those moves aren't allowed. But within the rules of the game, he has lots of options. If Plan A breaks down, he's expected to try something else to help win the game. Not so with a blueprint. It has no Plan B. If Plan A gets messed up, everything is messed up. It's back to the drawing board.”

He goes on, “Just look at the actual words of the New Testament. You'll notice there is little emphasis on the kinds of decisions we commonly stress over. Instead, the primary emphasis is on godly character and daily obedience as our pattern of life. Certainly when faced with a decision, we should pause to check the Scriptures and ask God if he has any specific input. If he does (either through the Scriptures or the inner leading of the Spirit), we must do exactly as he says or leads. But we shouldn't be surprised when most of the time his silence says, ‘I don't care— this one is your call.’”

So are you looking for a blueprint or a game plan?