5 Sermon Illustrations on Will Of God

The late Dr. Wernher Von Braun once was asked what it would take for man to reach the moon, and he replied, "The will to do it." This answer holds good in nearly every field of human endeavor. In medicine, determination and persistence have paid off in spectacular breakthroughs in conquering diseases. In transportation the dream of traveling around the world in a matter of hours has become a reality because the will to do so was strong. "The will to do it!" How vitally important this attitude is in Christianity! If you really want to do God's will, you can, but you must will to do it. This is true in so many areas of our lives. Where the Storm May Carry You There is a beautiful figure in one of Wordsworth's poems about a bird swept from the rough and rocky country habitat by the strong winds of a storm. The bird battled desperately, trying to get back to its familiar home, but all in vain. At last, it yielded to the wind, thinking that the storm would carry it to its death, but the gale carried it across the waves and brought it to a sunny land with green meadows and forest glades. How many of us have been like that little voyager, fretting and fighting against the will of God? We think life can never be the same again when we are carried seaward by the storm, until at last, we cease our struggling and yield to the wind, only to find that we have been carried to a place far better. God's Word encourages us to praise the Lord in the midst of raging waves and the strong winds of the storm. We can be assured that in God's own time and way, He will bring us to a better haven He has prepared for us. Remember: none lives so pleasantly as he who lives by faith.

A lady had a little gold cross, on the upright part of which the words, "God's will," were engraved. On the crossbar were the words, "My will." At the touch of a spring the cross disappeared and left only a straight beam bearing the words, "God's will." Thus, when our will is lost in God's and we are indeed dead unto sin, it is no longer a cross to follow Christ. We shall no longer complain that we do not get our own selfish way, because we shall not have any. When our will is contrary to God's will, then we have a cross to bear.

Socrates, when the tyrant threatened death to him, told him he was willing. "Nay, then," said the tyrant, "you shall live against your will." — "Nay, but," said Socrates, "whatever you do with me, it shall be my will." And a certain Stole, speaking of God, said, "What God wills I will; what God wills I will not; if he will that I live, I will live; if it be his pleasure that I die, I will die." Ah! how should the will of Christians stoop and lie down at the foot of God's will! "Not my will, but Thine, be done." Venning.