If the Lord Wills,…

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” --James 4:13-15, NKJV

The language we use indicates what we love.

The Hit

Only two football numbers have been retired at Ole Miss. This means that, as a tribute to these players’ accomplishments, no player is allowed to wear their numbers. The two men that have received this reward are Archie Manning (#18) and Chucky Mullins (#38).

On October 28, 1989, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss were playing on the Rebels’ Homecoming. Brad Gaines, fullback for Vanderbilt, caught a short pass. Chucky Mullins lowered his head for the tackle and hit the Vandy player in the back. Chucky Mullins fell to the ground and never moved. Unfortunately, Chucky Mullins would never move most of his lower body again. The hit caused severe damage to his spine and he was paralyzed instantly.

Mullins was in the hospital in Memphis for several weeks. President. George H. Bush visited him once. A fund was set up and over a Million Dollars was raised in his honor. A house was built for him in Oxford. Confined to a wheelchair, he returned as a student to Ole Miss in June 1990. He was able to attend football games in the Fall of 1990. He died in May 1991.

As a player, Chucky was known as guy who was smaller than most, but he played with a lot of heart. He dreamed of playing in the SEC and he worked hard to accomplish that goal.
In 2006, Chucky Mullins’ number was retired. A special bust of him was placed at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with just two words in large letters on the base of the pedestal: “Never Quit.”

“If the Lord wills,…”

The verse stated earlier instructs us to remember nothing is done unless it is God’s will. James mentioned men who bragged about what they were going to do, without recognizing life is fragile. There’s no guarantee anyone will live tomorrow. These business men James addressed said arrogantly, “I’m going to set up business in a local town and I’m going to get rich.” Well, James says, you need to add, “If it’s the Lord’s will” to any proposed plans. Life is illusive and unpredictable.

So, today, remember whatever you plan to accomplish will only be done "if the Lord wills."