The Alternative

Dr. Tony Evans: What God starts, God finishes.

Guest (Male): Dr. Tony Evans is God as faithful to complete the specific plan he has for each of us.

Dr. Tony Evans: And he who has begun a good work in you shall continue it until the day of redemption.

Guest (Male): This is The Alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans.

Guest (Male): When the circumstances of life get overwhelming, it can be hard to focus on the future. But today Dr. Evans talks about how to keep looking ahead, no matter how dark things seem to get. Let's jump right into today's lesson.

Dr. Tony Evans: I have talked any number of people who are living with a sense of hopelessness. Am I ever going to get to where I'm supposed to be? Am I ever going to get it right? Is life ever going to work for me?

Dr. Tony Evans: They've lost the sense of hope. One little boy said, hope is wishing for something that you know you're never going to get. And that's what a lot of folks feel.

Dr. Tony Evans: They've been looking for this and that, this experience, that experience, this sense of destiny. They just can't seem to get it. Well, Jeremiah 29 verse 11. Somebody didn't read that verse. I hear it. Jeremiah 29 verse 11. Here's what it says.

Dr. Tony Evans: For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare or well-being or good. Not for calamity or bad or evil. To give you a future and to give you a hope.

Dr. Tony Evans: Now, you ought to feel a little better right now.

Dr. Tony Evans: You lose your hope because you don't see a future. Yesterday was bleak, today is bleak, and tomorrow doesn't look any better. The weather report for your life says no sunshine.

Dr. Tony Evans: There's nothing out there that looks like it has your number on it related to purpose and calling and destiny. It is dark. And the sun's not shining. It's cloudy.

Dr. Tony Evans: In the midst of that misery, pain. You can almost tell people who have lost their hope. It's different having a problem. All of us have problems. I'm talking about lost your hope.

Dr. Tony Evans: There's no way out. You don't see any break in the clouds. There's no lining, no nothing out there. They're forlorn, living in perpetual depression, not a momentary lapse, but depression in perpetuity.

Dr. Tony Evans: This verse is found in a bad chapter. This is not a great verse in a great chapter. This is a great verse in a bad chapter. So if you're having a bad life, this is a good verse.

Dr. Tony Evans: Israel is in captivity in Babylon. Verse 4 in the chapter says, Thus said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Dr. Tony Evans: This verse is to people who have been placed in exile in judgment for rebelling against God. These people are in a desperate situation, negative circumstances, divine discipline, a pagan land, and are being led astray by the prophets.

Dr. Tony Evans: It is in the midst of this hopelessness that verse 11 finds itself. If you're tired of aimlessness, wondering, meandering, and you want to know, God, which way do you want me to go? Because I want to go there.

Dr. Tony Evans: I'm confused as to where to go. I can't listen to the prophets because they're not telling me right. I can't listen to the Babylonians because they don't know God. You ticked off at me. That's the reason I'm in the mess in the first place. What's a man supposed to do?

Dr. Tony Evans: Where do you find this hope? Verse 11 says, I know the plans I have for you. How do you know God still has a plan for you? Simple. You here. You can assume I'm right.

Dr. Tony Evans: You've seen a blind person with a dog. That's walking by faith. They can't see. They don't know where they're going. They don't know whether they're going to fall off a precipice or not or trip over a corner or run into another pedestrian.

Dr. Tony Evans: They've got to believe something. And that is that what the dog sees will be translated and they will know when to stop by staying connected with the dog. It's a faith walk. They can't see.

Dr. Tony Evans: But because man's best friend is beside them and they're holding on with all they got. When dog stops, they stop. When dog moves, they move. But they can't see. Why trust a dog when you can't see? Because he got what you don't have, eyes.

Dr. Tony Evans: I know it may look dark right now. I know it may be unclear exactly where you're headed. I know it may be unclear exactly where God is taking you. It may be pitch black outside. Hold on. Because when God moves, you'll know it.

Dr. Tony Evans: But why does he have me stop at the corner so long? Maybe traffic is coming this way. I don't know. I don't know why he has you stuck, delayed, hindered. But he says, I know the plans I have for you.

Dr. Tony Evans: Even though you're being disciplined, even though you got to pay you in a pagan industry, you're in a pagan environment, even though maybe the church isn't doing your right. I know the plans I have for you. God has a plan for you.

Dr. Tony Evans: I know you don't know it. The details are obscure. I know that it's not fully flushed out. I know that all of these things are coming at you right now and you may want to pull out your hair in the midst of your confusion. God says, I have a plan.

Dr. Tony Evans: He does give you just a little bit information though. Here's what he says. It's plans for welfare and not for calamity. He says, it involves a future, it involves your tomorrow. And it's a plan that has hope in it. That's good news.

Dr. Tony Evans: God has got your tomorrow covered, even though you haven't been there yet. He has already sculpted out tomorrow, and he has come back to tell you, he has the plan for tomorrow already sculpted out. I know it's dark, don't walk off. I have a future for you.

Dr. Tony Evans: So what do you mean? You want me to sit back and just do nothing? No. He gives them a few things to do. He says verse 5, build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce.

Dr. Tony Evans: Become as productive as you possibly can. Don't sit and do nothing. Do all that is at your hand to do. It says, plant gardens and eat their produce. Maximize your potential.

Dr. Tony Evans: All that there is that you can do, all that there is to do, do that. Maximize what is before you and become productive. While you're waiting on God to make your change come, while you're waiting on God to turn things around, maximize the moment. Carpe Diem, seize this moment.

Guest (Male): And Dr. Evans will tell us how we can do that when he returns shortly with the rest of today's message. Don't go away.

Guest (Male): Picture yourself surrounded by crystal clear waters, warm Caribbean breezes, and the kind of quiet that allows you to hear from God in a fresh way. This February 28th through March 7th, you're invited to join Dr. Tony Evans and friends for a seven-day Caribbean cruise. A journey of rest and renewal.

Guest (Male): You'll visit beautiful ports of call like Nassau in the Bahamas, the pristine shores of Grand Turk, and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, even stopping in a private island designed for pure relaxation. And in between, you'll enjoy peaceful days at sea, perfect for reflection, fellowship, and rest.

Guest (Male): Along the way, you'll experience powerful Bible teaching from Dr. Evans, uplifting worship, meaningful connection with the community that feels like family, and enjoy the company of special guests Priscilla Shirer and Anthony Evans. If your soul needs refreshing and your spirit needs renewing, this is your invitation. Find out more and make your reservation today at TonyEvans.org.

Guest (Male): Before Dr. Evans returns, I want to tell you about the perfect follow-up resource for the message series he's wrapping up today. It's his Called for a Purpose devotional book, and it builds on what we've been learning about your one-of-a-kind, God-given calling.

Guest (Male): God has something special he intends for you to do, and these daily readings will encourage you to trust his leading and live with greater purpose every day. Dr. Evans maintains there's no greater source of satisfaction and success than finding and fulfilling your purpose.

Guest (Male): And this information is so important, we'd like you to have the Called for a Purpose devotional as our gift when you help support the work of The Alternative with a contribution. But don't wait, because if you donate today, along with the devotional, we'll also send you all 12 full-length audio messages from the two-volume Called for a Purpose series.

Guest (Male): Today's the last day to take advantage of this special package deal. So visit TonyEvans.org right away. That's TonyEvans.org. Or call our 24-hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222, and let one of our helpful team members assist with your request. That's 1-800-800-3222.

Guest (Male): Dr. Evans is back now with the final part of today's message.

Dr. Tony Evans: A lot of us while waiting for God are doing nothing. When there is plenty to do. There's only one time you do nothing, and that is when there's nothing you can do. But if God has given something at your hand to do, you do it with all of your might.

Dr. Tony Evans: He goes on, he says, take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters and take wives for your sons and your daughters and let them bear sons and daughters and multiply there. Do not decrease. He says, be productive, and then he says, multiply.

Dr. Tony Evans: Become as fruitful as you possibly can, even though you're in a pagan land and even though you've messed up. He says verse 7, seek the welfare of others. Seek the welfare of the city in which I have sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord in its behalf. In its welfare is your welfare. That's key.

Dr. Tony Evans: As you are being a blessing, you are setting yourself up to be blessed. As you are being a blessing. One of the reasons we lose hope is because the only person we're concerned about is ourselves. If you messed up and the only person you see is you, then you're helping you to destroy you.

Dr. Tony Evans: See, if you messed up and the only person you see is you, then you are helping you to do you in. And we've gone over it many times how God used people who blessed others to be blessed themselves with the same thing that they did to bless somebody else. That's what it means when it says, it's more blessed to give than to receive. Why is it more blessing? Because what you've done is open up a canal for God to come through to you.

Dr. Tony Evans: In spite of their circumstances, they were to be productive. And they were to impact others. He says in verse 12 and 13, Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart.

Dr. Tony Evans: Now we don't quite read that verse like that. We read it. When you seek the solution, you'll find the solution, when you search for the solution with all of your heart. That's not what the verse says. When you seek me, you'll find me if you search for me. God said, I have the plans.

Dr. Tony Evans: Don't go looking for the plans, look for me. I want to know my calling. Find me. I know it. I want to find my mate. Find me. I know where he is. Obviously, you don't know where he is.

Dr. Tony Evans: Do you know Adam never went looking for Eve? He never knew anything about Eve. He was asleep when Eve was being made. You know. You know the story. God told Adam to name the animals, right? Okay. So he's naming it. Zebra, cow, bull, you know, he's naming all the animals. Just having a good old time.

Dr. Tony Evans: He comes to the end of the day, and the Bible says, but for Adam, there was not found anything suitable for him. So he's he's naming all these animals and then it dawns on him about about sundown. For every cow, there's a bull. For every mister sheep, there's a misses sheep. Every male dog has a female dog.

Dr. Tony Evans: God said, okay, time to take a nap, Adam. Adam says, okay, I'm tired. Naming animals is hard work. So he goes out, he's so he's laying back, he's asleep. The Bible says, while he was asleep, God performed an operation. He went over and slit open his side.

Dr. Tony Evans: Now, you know the story, it says he took a rib. The Hebrew word for rib means side. The Bible says, and God went over and fashioned a woman. The Hebrew word for fashion means to build. To use intricate details in order to form in such a way as to compliment that which it is being built for.

Dr. Tony Evans: It means to be built with the ideal specifications. Adam is sleep. Eve is fashioned. In fact, the Bible says when God created the man, it says, he picked up the dust of the earth and just sort of threw it together.

Dr. Tony Evans: He does not use the Hebrew word for fashion when it comes to the creation of the man, only fashion when it comes to the creation of the woman. Because he had to create a detailed compliment. With unique specifications. So Adam's asleep, Eve is fashioned, made uniquely for him.

Dr. Tony Evans: Eve opens up her eyes. Now she doesn't know anything about a male or a man. The only thing she knows about is her creator because that's the only thing she's been exposed to. Now, the reason I know she doesn't know anything about a man is because the Bible says, God brought her to Adam.

Dr. Tony Evans: So she she wakes up. She doesn't wake up and say, oh, I'm 35 and I'm not married yet. No, she puts her hand in God's hand, and the Bible says, and God marches her over to Adam. So he plays matchmaker. Adam looked at Eve. He looked at the zebras and the cows and the bulls. He looked at Eve and he looked at all his creation and said, goodbye.

Dr. Tony Evans: You're all the weakest link. Because even in the dark, while he was asleep, God was doing his thing. God does some of his best work when you are asleep. That is in the dark. He does his best work when you don't think he's doing a thing. He's behind the scenes working it out.

Dr. Tony Evans: I have a plan for you. And it's a good one. Maybe you should have gotten it earlier in your life. Maybe you should have. Maybe if you hadn't done this or done that or gone here or gone there, then maybe you would have gotten it early. Maybe if you'd have gotten saved earlier, you would have known me earlier, you would have had the plan. Maybe, maybe so. Maybe if you hadn't married out of my will or if you hadn't traveled out of my will or you hadn't been in rebellion.

Dr. Tony Evans: Maybe you would have gotten it earlier and I know you wish you could turn back the hands of time and make it happen all over again, and I know you feel like you've been in this thing too long, and I know you don't know how much longer it's going to take to get out of it, but still with all your questions, I have a plan for you. And I know what it is, and it's a good one. And it will give you a future, and it will give you a hope.

Dr. Tony Evans: It would be 70 years before they would see the plan. 70 years. The prophets were saying, two years and you're out of here. God was saying, look, it's going to be longer than you think. That's why I want you to be as productive as you can right where you are until you see what I'm going to do. God is inviting you to participate with him in the drama of the ages.

Dr. Tony Evans: You say, I don't like the dark. I can't help you with that because without faith it is impossible to please God. Them that cometh to God must first believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. You don't know which way to go? Seek him. You're in pain, seek him. You're confused, seek him. You're tired of waiting, seek him.

Dr. Tony Evans: If you come and ask me, I'm going to send you back to him. Because he has not told me his plan for you. A lot of us have a picture, but we can't see a plan. So we wonder whether it's going to produce anything. God says, I have the plan. I am the architect and I have built lives before.

Dr. Tony Evans: It's not my first building. You're not my first project. In fact, you're easy compared to some of the dudes I've had to deal with. Sometimes it'll look like God is doing nothing. God has you in his hands. He has you in his heart.

Dr. Tony Evans: And he wants to see the plan of your future burst out before you like you never dreamt possible. He wants you to see your tomorrow like you never knew it could be. He wants to take yesterday's pain and turn it into tomorrow's joy and he's saying, hold on to my hand and never let it go.

Dr. Tony Evans: Because I know where I'm taking you. And it's a good place. It's a wonderful place because it's a future and it's a hope. 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ put up the payment for the plan. And he who has begun a good work in you shall continue it until the day of redemption.

Dr. Tony Evans: What God starts, God finishes. What God begins, God ends. What God initiates, God completes. But you say, I'm in a mess. You don't know my mess. You don't know my God. And if you forget the sermon, remember the verse. I have a plan for you. Not for calamity or bad, but for good. And it involves your future and it's full of hope.

Guest (Male): Dr. Tony Evans has a closing invitation to share with you in a moment. But first, I want to remind you that today's message is the final installment in his encouraging life-changing series, Called for a Purpose. As I mentioned earlier, if you make a contribution to help support the work of Dr. Evans and The Alternative, we'll say thanks by sending you the complete 12-part series on CD, USB flash drive, or digital download, along with his companion Called for a Purpose devotional book.

Guest (Male): Specially created to continue encouraging you long after the series concludes. But this is the last day for this special offer. Get the details and take advantage of it at TonyEvans.org. That's TonyEvans.org. Or by phone at 1-800-800-3222. Again, 1-800-800-3222.

Guest (Male): You know, it can be really refreshing to talk to somebody who skips all the small talk, gets straight to the point and tells the truth. Dr. Evans says that describes the Apostle James perfectly. Be sure to join us tomorrow as he reveals actionable takeaways from the book of James. Right now though, he's back with a special invitation for you.

Dr. Tony Evans: If you're not absolutely sure that you have received salvation, that you're on your way to heaven, then let's get that straight right now. God offers you salvation as a free gift because of the sacrifice of his son. And if you will come to Jesus Christ, acknowledging your need for a savior because you recognize you're a sinner, recognizing you can't save yourself and appealing to Jesus to apply his death into your life. He will come in, forgive your sins and give you eternal life right now. Simply say to the Lord, I know I'm a sinner, I know I need a savior. I'm believing in you alone to be my savior. So I now accept your offer to give me eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. And then thank him for the free salvation he just gave you.