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Life is NOT a Box of Chocolates

andy150A Call to Arms Men's Conference Speaker Highlight

//ANDY THOMPSON

MY WIFE AND I have triplets—three boys who just turned 14. So pray for us. They are great young men. They just love to eat. We literally have to hide food. Recently my sons discovered the movie Forrest Gump. I happened to walk into the room where they were watching it just as Forrest's mother said to him, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." I couldn't help myself. I quickly said, "Pause it!" And then I told them,

“Your life is not a box of chocolates! GET GOD AND YOU WILL GET VISION!"

It is amazing how we can be so entertained by something that we miss the subtle, worldly,
even demonic message that has been communicated. I guess I always knew this was the concept behind Forrest Gump—his whole life was an accident, like that feather floating in the breeze.

But allow me to remind you—your life is not a box of chocolates! Absolutely refuse to live a life without meaning, a life without direction. The Word
teaches us how dangerous and harmful an unintentional life can be. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." SIMPLY STATED WITHOUT VISION OR INTENTION YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.

We all want to live; we all want abundant life. Divine guidance, or direction from God, can literally save your life.

Proverbs 29:18 in the NIV reads, "Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint." Did you ever play a game with a child and they kept changing the rules? A life without bare minimums, expectations, and restraint is a life that you don't want to live. I know we live in a world that seems to want to erase what God and His Word expect. But we know this is a very dangerous idea. Once you start to move the lines, where does it end?

Revelation—vision and the power of intention—keeps you
from sinning. It keeps you reined in. It isn't just fear of punishment that should keep you holy. It also ought to be the knowledge of the promise. You should remember what God has promised you and keep in mind the blessing He has revealed to you, because without that goal, you may cast off restraint.

Proverbs 29:18 in Young's Literal Translation reads, "Without a Vision is a people made naked." Aren't you glad for clothes? Would you go to work tomorrow naked? We all love the beach. The only problem is, people get to see the real me. Clothes hide my Oreo
addiction

Without intention, you can be exposed. When there is no vision, we get to see the real, flawed you. I pastor a very large congregation, but I often wonder if anyone would follow the Andy not covered in vision and intention. With a vision, this Andy is a pretty cool guy. But I don't think anyone would follow me across the street if I was just living my life for myself. Without this Kingdom vision, you would be exposed. His Kingdom has made you so much more than you would be.


God is Intentional


When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden, it was not an accident. God moves intentionally. God had you in mind before the foundation of the world. HE DECIDED TO SEND YOU AT THIS TIME, IN THIS PLACE, FOR JUST SUCH A MOMENT AS THIS. Since God is intentional, you are going to have to live intentionally to be in a relationship with Him!

Say this to yourself:

I refuse to take action without prayerful consideration.

I cannot live an accidental life with an intentional God.

We serve an intentional God with plans for us—plans not to harm us but to give us hope and a future (Jer. 29:11 NIV). Seek His Kingdom first, and everything else will be added unto you!