“So, Randy, what is this going to be?” Randy pretty much jump-started my real estate career when he listed three houses with me. To be honest, these were some of the weirdest houses I had ever seen. One was a pyramid, one was an A-frame, and the third was as close to a normal house as any of his properties would ever come.

The pyramid had five stone hot tubs. My initial thought was that someone had cloned Buck Rogers and Hugh Hefner (you kids, Google that) along with a (not to be named) dope-smoking country music star. The redeeming virtue was that all three sat high on a ridge with a spectacular panoramic view of the Lake Travis main basin. I put one picture of that view in my magazine ad and had all three under contract in two weeks.

Randy wanted to talk to me about selling another one of his properties. I knew the house, as I had met him there several times as we negotiated previous sales. This house also had a great second-story view of the lake. The entire wall on the second story facing the lake was sliding-glass doors. There was one big problem. Outside those doors, there was no decking and no balcony. Nothing but a straight drop!

When I arrived for my appointment, he was working on an addition to the house. There was some framing and some A/C ductwork. I asked him, “What is this going to be?” He paused for a minute, wiped his brow, and said, “I’m not sure yet.” That explained a lot. I declined the invitation to represent him on that particular piece of property.

It’s always good to have a plan when you are undertaking a project. Life is the same way. My question to you is, “What’s the plan, man?” In the military, the mission determines the direction of the planning. What’s your mission? What is your life destination? Do you have a life goal, or are you just trying to get by with the minimum amount of effort?

Planning is good, but we need to look at God’s perspective. He has a few things to say about planning. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21, ESV). To make plans without taking God into consideration is not wise. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). This tells me that whatever I am determined to do will ultimately be redirected by the Lord.

Scripture tells us that God does indeed have a plan and purpose for us. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). If I am seeking to go my own way, I am going to be continually frustrated. It is not God’s intention to frustrate us. His desire is for us to embrace His plan, and that plan has been made perfectly clear. It was the last command Jesus gave to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Simply stated, the disciples were told to go make disciples, teaching them to “observe all that I have commanded you.” The disciples they made were to replicate that same process. Just as they were commanded to go, all who have since become followers are also to replicate the process. We are not merely to make converts, nor are we to send paid professionals to do the work.

Too many Christians today are aimless and unfulfilled. We have lost our sense of purpose. We are no longer salt and light. As a result, we are no longer impacting a dying world. BUT, there is a simple solution. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). Determine to be the disciple-maker Jesus has called you to be and leave the rest to Him. His plans are to give us “a future and a hope.”

Remember, it is “the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” That purpose has been made quite clear.

What say ye, Man of Valor?