God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message

by Ray Comfort

Why do 9 out of 10 children raised in Christian homes leave the Church? Why do many professing Christians show little or no evidence for their faith? Why do 80-90% of those making decisions for Christ fall away from the faith?For decades, the world’s most popular gospel message has been drawing the lost by promising God’s wonderful plan for their life. But behind the facade of the “wonderful plan” message is the reality of the trials, temptation, and persecution that Jesus promised. How can we reconcile the two?In this life-changing book, best-selling author Ray Comfort explores whether this common gospel approach aligns with real life—and with Scripture. The vital biblical principles he reveals will force you to reexamine your ideas about the gospel—and will teach you how to reach unbelievers the way God intended. A must-read for all who care about the lost.“While reading this book my heart went into atrial fibrillation; it’s that good! After I finished it, I couldn’t sleep. There’s nothing like it. It is truly from God.”—Bill Fay, author/evangelist (Share Jesus Without Fear)

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Evangelism, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ray is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters and the best–selling author of more than 80 books, including, Hell's Best Kept Secret, Scientific Facts in the Bible, and The Evidence Bible. He co–hosts (with actor Kirk Cameron) the award–winning television program "The Way of the Master," seen in 200 countries. He is also the Executive Producer on the movies "Audacity," "180," "Evolution vs. God," and others, which have been seen by millions. He and his wife, Sue, live in Bellflower, California, where they have three grown children.

Reviews

[Jennifer Konie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I would be able to read this small book (124 pages) in a day! The content was so intense and important that it took about a week to get through! I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to obey the command of the Great Commision! If this book doesn't stir your heart and soul into action, then you need to make sure you're still alive!!

[Vikki Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you read this book, set aside what you think you know about personal evangelism and judge what Ray Comfort says in this book according to the scriptures. This book is a short, but meaningful and logical reminder that God gave us everything we need in the scriptures. And Jesus modeled it all for us...if we only care to look.

[Dawn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the clear, consider way Ray Comfort tackles the modern message of the church and shows us where loving Christians unwittingly deviate from the biblical method of evangelism. We are all called to preach Christ to our dying world. Ray makes it easier to be sure we are doing it correctly!

[Benjamin Reardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The sinner is dead in his sins. We can say, ‘Pray this prayer,’ but he needs to hear the voice of the Son of God, or there is no life in him; and the thing that primes the sinner's ear to hear the voice of the Son of God is the Law. It is the Law that converts the soul, so that the person becomes a new creation in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)…When we speak about the hundreds of thousands who fall away from the faith, we can lose sight of the reality that these are individual human beings, and at stake is their eternal salvation from death and damnation. We simply must stop telling people under God's wrath and headed for Hell that God has a wonderful plan for their lives. If we fear God we will return to the pattern given us in Scripture, to seek and save the lost the way Jesus did.”

Ray Comfort is a magnificent titan for the Christian faith, and he’s one of the boldest believers preaching the Gospel to unbelievers that there is today. This book is a stark reminder that the fields are ripe for harvest, but the laborers are few.

This book is a call to action for the Church (particularly in America). Far too often are unbelievers told that “God has a wonderful plan” for their lives and that Jesus Christ is the chief means to the end of temporal happiness on earth. The evidence is clear that the “Wonderful Plan” phrase, the “Sinners Prayer,” and “Felt Needs” are all unbiblical efforts to boost Church attendance numbers rather than save souls from the wrath of God.

Ray Comfort is the author of more than 80 books and Gospel tracts. I’ve also read his incredible book on Biblical evangelism (which I plan to reread soon), “The Way of the Master.” I highly recommend this extraordinary wake-up call to believers; written in 2010, it has become even more relevant in 2024.

[Marguerite Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful that I read this book. I can see this is very important how we are to witness to others. This book is an eye opener. We all need to read this book if we do want to win the lost in a godly way without false kind of promise or false hope so that they will be one of the true convert instead of false convert thinking that they are saved.

It is a quick easy reading book to read and full of scriptures and how to witness to others by using the Law to convict them of their sins, and how they need Christ all the more. I haven't found any No No in that. It did talk about the false covert those who were "saved" but wasn't really save because of the wrong way of witnessing to them without using the Law to convict them of their sins and how much they really do need Christ all the more." The false message had them thinking the "cheap grace" without hardship living for Christ and peaceful time and living happy right now.

[Nathan C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book exposes the shallowness of today's Christianity, and shows how unrealistic and contradictory it is to "catch souls" by telling them they'll lead a wonderful life if only they "accept Christ." It misrepresents the Bible, painting it as some sort of motivational success book, and it just plain doesn't work.

Ray Comfort speaks of the disillusionment of hundreds of thousands of converts to Christianity as they find that their problems DON'T disappear, they DON'T find the missing piece, and they DON'T experience true happiness. Of course they leave the church. Of course they lose all interest in the Gospel.

These people were told, before they had any notion of their own moral responsibility, that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life.

[Merrideth]

Excellent reminder of Biblical sacrifice and personal sacrifice as a Christian. We come to the cross to acknowledge our sin and repent. We do people a disservice by pretending the Bible is all about happiness and love. Its even more important for people to know their inherent nature as to fully appreciate the sacrifice made on the cross.

[Patriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it for Apologetics--it was awesome and I love Ray Comfort!

[Dawn Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT read! I highly recommend every Believer read and heed this important message concisely contained and delivered in this short tome.

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this one six stars. A superb indictement of false conversions caused by preaching a false gospel, lacking its foundation on the Law.

[Wendy Blankinship · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5-5

This book was really thought provoking as it analyzed how sharing the message of the gospel has changed over the years. Comfort challenges the popular evangelical approach that focuses on offering a “wonderful plan” as a way to attract people to Christianity. He argues that this message often downplays the seriousness of sin, judgment, and the need for repentance. He contrasts it with biblical evangelism, particularly the approach of Jesus and the apostles, which began by addressing the Law to awaken a realization of personal sin and need for a Savior. The book stresses the importance of sharing the gospel in a way that is faithful to Scripture, even if it’s uncomfortable, because true conversion comes through conviction, not just promises of a better life.

There are some really thought provoking analogies and illustrations. Both parts of the gospel are important ( recognizing our sin and guilt and God‘s grace and love) for understanding and ultimately experiencing true conversion. Comfort points out that the myth of the modern message of the gospel focus is only on the idea of God having a wonderful plan for your life. This often falls apart for people as they pray a prayer, and life is still hard. Yes, God does have a wonderful plan for our lives, but the ultimate goal is righteousness !

[Matt Daq · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pastor / preacher this book helped me see the dangers of altar calls where we tell congrats that God has great plans for their life. Then when bad stuff happens they ask God what happened to the wonderful life God has promised them, yet the real wonderful life is going through trials with God.

[Shannon Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct, clear, and practical.

“The Law should be the backbone of our gospel presentation, because its function is to prepare the sinner’s heart for grace.”

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is packed full of truth! A bit repetitive, but the message is solid.

[ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I believe myself to be a very religious person. I consistently thank God for the blessings in my life, I attempt to look at everyone as a soul and source of light, and I constantly aim to do and be better everyday.

Every few years I have a small urge to reevaluate why I stopped going to church and consider going back. This is the third time I've had this thought and because of this book it will be the final.

This book explains that to be a good Christian you should smother yourself in guilt and shame and that life on earth should have a lot of pain and suffering. That's what I got out of it.

This book goes as far as saying adultery isn't just an action but a thought. Yes, if you think, THINK, of someone sexually you're committing adultery... I'm not even sure one could stop this basic human thought pattern that is intended to keep the human race alive.

The author hits on homosexuality being a grave sin which I've never understood. He says that happiness isn't guaranteed in life and we shouldn't be happy if we are sinners (which is everyone).

When I read other spiritual books that promote loving everyone, praising God, and reworking your mental thought patterns towards positivity I always feel warm and full in my heart and my head feels light and clear. This book was opposite.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good message but an often misleading, sensational style. That modern evangelism is based on a flawed, if not outright un-Biblical model is readily apparent. (Churches I've attended have said as much for the last two decades.)

Good at documenting pop culture references (54 end notes, though some are self-references), but less thorough documenting scholarly or historic sources. (Some sounded so good that I might read more if the work had been identified.) Referred four times (on cover or in text) to Kirk Cameron, as if he were an authority. While politeness may account for his not naming sources of positions he criticizes, why did Comfort leave anonymous those he agreed with? It smacks of sound bites and shallowness.

Suggest the serious reader skip chapters 1, 2 and maybe 6 as they are mostly assemblying straw men to knock down.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST CRITIQUES POPULAR EVANGELISTIC METHODS

Ray Comfort (born 1949) is a New Zealand Christian minister and evangelist who started Living Waters Publications and The Way of the Master in Bellflower, California.

He wrote in the first chapter of this 2010 book, “I cannot put into words the heartbreak of seeing so many spurious converts who have left the Church, and the multitudes of false converts who stay within the Church… Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources… stated, ‘If our research approximates eternal realities, nearly one-half of all church members may not be Christians.’ How could this tragic situation have happened? How could vast numbers of people have been led to believe that they are Christians when they are not? If you have struggled to understand a why a loved one who made a ‘decision for Christ' has no desire for the things of God, or why so many church members how little or no evidence for their faith, there is an explanation. And there is something you can do to change the situation.” (Pg. 14-15)

He states, “Instead of preaching the Good News that sinners can be made righteous in Christ and escape the wrath to come, we have settled for a ‘gospel’ that implies that God’s primary purpose in saving us is to unfold a ‘wonderful plan’ for our lives: to solve our problems, make us happy in Christ, and rescue us from the hassles of this life.” (Pg. 21)

He notes, “According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary… an average of 171,000 Christians ANNUALLY are martyred for their faith… If non-Christians respond to the gospel message only to improve their lives, they will be disillusioned when persecution comes, and they may fall away from the faith. This is because many respond experimentally, simply to see if the ‘wonderful life’ is as good as Christians say it is.” (Pg.. 28)

He suggests, “Imagine that you have been supernaturally taken back to September 11, 2001. You have been asked to address the people who work in Tower One of the World Trade Center… You know that within 24 hours many of your hearers will die in unspeakably horrible ways… what will you tell them? Can you in good conscience say, ‘God has a wonderful plan for your life’? … the lost don’t equate the promise of a ‘wonderful plan for your LIFE’ with eternity. They understandably think of the here and now.” (Pg. 30-31)

He states, “If only Jesus gives true happiness, as the modern gospel message maintains… the Christian sees his job as one of unmasking the world’s promise of happiness and contrasting it with the true and lasting happiness that Jesus gives. From there arises the ‘Jesus is better than beer’ mentality. This is demeaning to the name of Jesus, and completely unnecessary. There is no contest between Jesus and beer, because happiness isn’t the issue.” (Pg. 40)

He summarizes, “we have looked at the dismal moral state of contemporary Christianity. We have seen that there are millions within the Church who do not have the ‘things that accompany salvation’ (Heb 6:9), and multitudes of others who have fallen away from the faith. This has happened because the Law has not been used to bring the knowledge of sin. Instead, we have used an unbiblical method of attracting sinners to a ‘wonderful new life in Christ.’’ (Pg. 69)

He recalls that at times when he spoke with someone at an ‘altar call,’ “if I had known his motive, I would have seen that he was 100 percent SINCERE. He really did mean his decision… He sincerely wanted to give this Jesus thing a go to see if he could get a buzz out of it. He had tried sex, drugs, materialism, alcohol. Why not give Christianity a try and see if it’s as good as all these Christians say it is: peace, joy, love, fulfillment, lasting happiness? He wasn’t fleeing from the wrath to come, because I hadn’t told him there was wrath to come. There was a glaring omission from my message.” (Pg. 74)

He then gives several pages of incidents (especially crusades) where hundreds of ‘decisions for Christ’ were obtained, but only a month or two later, almost none of them were still in the faith. “These statistics of an 84 to 97% fall-away rate are not confined to crusades but are typical throughout local church evangelism… The problem is not with crusades, but with the method and message of modern evangelism.” (Pg. 75-79)

He asserts, “Today’s generation doesn’t just lack the moral values of its grandparents; it doesn't have ANY moral values. In previous years, there was a ‘moral’ code even among criminals, that when you stole from someone, you didn’t blast him with your gun as you left. This is not so nowadays. We are daily reminded that what one generation permits the next embraces as normality.” (Pg. 99)

He finally directly confronts the tactics of Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ/CRU): “as Dr. Bright himself wrote about the ‘Four Spiritual Laws’ tract… ‘We don’t claim that it’s the only way to share the gospel, or even the best way; but it is one method that works.’ Among the benefits he lists is that ‘it begins on a positive note: “God loves you.”’ … in ‘Heaven or Hell,’ written the year before his death, Dr. Bright acknowledges that an overemphasis on God’s love and an underemphasis on impending judgment and Hell has had a negative result.” (Pg. 115)

He concludes, “The size of our churches mean nothing if they prove to be full of false converts. May each of us give an account with joy, and not with grief.” (Pg. 108)

This book will be controversial among many Christians, but his concern for those ‘falling away’ is widely agreed to be a problem.

[Cary Gephart · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a pastor please read this book with an open Bible next to you at the same time. Examine the scriptures and see if what Mr. Comfort is teaching is true. For me personally I'd just like to say God bless Ray Comfort and his ministry! The principals explained, expounded and examined in this short read have enlightened me to the snares of the modern gospel message and caused me to set my feet firmly on the principle of law to the proud and grace to the humble. May I be more passionate for the lost and more careful to lead to repentance instead of to decisions.

[Rebecca L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so wonderful and eye opening. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very similar to The way of the master book, a little shorter, watered down version but excellent.

[Alex]

Significance of law in sharing the gospel

[Sharon Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important message for anyone who cares for the lost.

[Burkean Conservative · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Ray Comfort basically sets out to outline the biblical method of evangelism. The book deals with the use of the Law in these encounters with unbelievers. He quotes a lot of theologians and pastors from the past; D Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Luther, Whitefield, Matthew Henry, Spurgeon, Wesley, Moody etc.

This is the main thesis of this short, readable book: The Law exposes the need for the Gospel. Without the law, the sinner is unaware of his need. Intertwined with this basic idea are the issues relating to false conversions, apostasy and so on. The book also pays homage to the work of the Spirit through both the Law and the Gospel to bring about the conversion of the sinner.

At times, there were some off-hand hyperbolic statements made that could have been avoided and would have probably garnered it a higher rating. "The Law’s main design is not for the saved, but for the unsaved. It was given primarily as an evangelistic tool, as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.". His section on happiness and the gospel could have had more balance; Calvin puts it beautifully, "the Lord kindly and spontaneously manifests Himself in Christ, in whom He offers all happiness for our misery, all abundance for our want, opening up the treasures of heaven to us, so that we may turn with full faith to His beloved Son, depend upon Him with full expectation, rest in Him, and cleave to Him with full hope." from Institutes Bk III Chapter 20.

Also, this book, though it mentions the Gospel and grace, does not devote any substantial chapter to it. It focuses more on the use o the Law and this is understandable since that is point of this book: to convince the reader that the Law has an indispensable place in evangelism and must be preceded by the Gospel and the loss of the use of the Law in evangelism ought to be lamented and remedied. Since this is a book aimed to lay-readers, a section on regeneration, justification and double imputation could have been added. There are vague references to them here and there, but nothing substantial. Again, I'm evaluating it for what it is not saying rather than what has been said. I think Comfort does believe in these doctrines and has spelled it out elsewhere.

It has an interesting appendix dealing with Campus Crusade and Bill Bright. I've paid little to no attention to Bill Bright's works, since I generally steer clear of popular evangelical writing on these subjects. But I was pleasantly surprised and edified by this section where Comfort quotes from Bright's last two works before his death to establish the thesis of the book. I, someone who is confessionally reformed, could hardly disagree with the quotes from Bright.

Do visit the website freewonderfulbook.com and give it a read. One could read it in a sitting

"Those who look to the cross as a token of God’s love will never doubt His steadfast devotion to them, regardless of their circumstances"

"Its [Law] holy light reveals the dust of sin on the table of the human heart, so that the gospel in the hand of the Spirit can wipe it perfectly clean."

"The Law doesn’t help us; it just leaves us helpless. It doesn’t justify us; it just leaves us guilty before the judgment bar of a holy God."

"He is therefore ready for the Good News, and can now comprehend the incredible love of God in Jesus Christ: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of The thing that sinners are hoping will save them on the Day of Judgment—the goodness of God—will be the very thing that will condemn themthe law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). "

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover for this book is brilliant and explains why the whole "God wants to make you happy" movement is ridiculous to anyone who knows Church history. But the book has far more to say than just that obvious observation; Comfort argues that too many in the Christian church have been presenting a mamby-pamby "God of love" who has little to do with the God of the Bible, pointing out with much Biblical support that God has much broader goals than to "make you happy."

Christ wasn't kidding around when he told his followers, "They persecuted me, and they will persecute you," and Paul meant it when he said, "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." Christians can experience great joys unavailable to unbelievers it's true, however that doesn't mean that God makes their lives easier exactly. He gives them purpose, pleasure and spiritual power; he loves and supports them; but he never promises to free his people of physical or emotional pain. At least not in this life.

Comfort goes beyond showing what's wrong with that approach to evangelism to discuss the Biblical way of going about things and reminds the Christian reader of some of the fundamentals of the faith -- and probably the fundamentals Christians are most prone to get complacent about.

A short book with a narrow focus that does a good job of covering its subject.

[David Mccowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Excellent overview of the why’s of Living Waters.

Best part of this book was the statistics on the poor long term results from “decisions for Christ”. Comfort’s analogy of the gospel of being a parachute on a plane ride is fantastic. If we don’t know we have to jump (die and be judged), knowledge of Christ dieing for our sins doesn’t penetrate deeply.

My favorite line in the book is from chapter 7: When comfort states how he sidestep theological issues by asking “Are you a good person?” And then goes deeper into the ten commandments. It is in line with what I’ve heard many apologists say: Childers, Alisa; Koukl, Greg; and Turek, Frank. Most people think they are good people, few are genuinely seeking.

This book is available for free, just Google “Free Wonderful Book” and it should come up. Second if you have been binging on Living Waters videos you won’t find much new here, just a little extra detail. Still I love the gospel and sometimes I’ll just watch or read a presentation on the Gospel just for fun. I don’t think any Christian out grows the need for hear what our King has done.

[Susan Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life
Author: Ray Comfort

Summary Title of Review: The Stark Truth About Our Standing in the Sight of a Holy God
Review:
People who go to some churches have been taught they must "bind Satan". Many people. That's like telling them they have to throw a rope around the moon! And there is no remedy for this difficulty.
Here, Ray Comfort writes the stark truth about our standing in the sight of a Holy God who expects, no commands us, to be holy even as He Himself is Holy. Holy? What does that mean? There is a black and white answer. No, I mean an answer written in black and white in the pages of your Bible, be it a paper and leather type or an electronic type. Flip to Exodus 20:3-17 and read it. We've all heard from some well meaning Christian "Oh, that's the OLD Testament. That doesn't apply to us.". What they do not know is that in this they have been gravely (meaning the grave) deceived! Read this book to find out what this is about, and best of all, it's ultimate remedy!

[Jack Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a viewer of Ray Comfort on YouTube for a few months, I’d become interested in sharing the gospel with friends and family but had seen little to no success. The general response from people to me sharing my faith was the typical: “I’m glad you’re happy and found something that works for you!”. It pained me, because I knew that the gospel was for them too! The key that I had been missing was the law and the fear of God. I had been preaching a false image of God as a deity who only existed to bring me happiness and joy, not the God who revealed to us our deep sins and iniquity through the law and sent His own begotten Son to save us. This book has been a game changer.. seriously! Ray perfectly outlines the issues with the modern message and presents the logical reasons as to why the law is so important, including constant scriptural references. I may have liked a bit more practical advice on sharing the gospel with people and navigating the actual conversations, but this seems like a fantastic starting point and I look forward to applying what Ray talks about!

[Frank Chirico · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many of Ray Comfort’s books, and I have got to say this is the best one despite it’s size. It’s a short read; for this culture in which we live in, is probably a good thing. If you can only choose one of Ray’s book, read this one. It not only shows how to use the Law in evangelism, but they WHY. This generation needs the WHY and this book answers that. So many stats in the beginning was boring, but needed. We needed to know we failed. We needed to know where we failed, and we needed to know how to fix it.

Are you tired of the, “God has a wonderful plan for your life message?” I know I am. Pastors, parents, spiritual leaders, Evangelists, and everyone in between…get this book and teach it. What if we cared more about the quality of our preaching and using the Law than gaining people to fill the seats to listen to the “big show” every Sunday? We could change the world. Start with this book.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand Ray Comforts' worry about the message of the Bible being washed out, and yes, I partly agree - but how he presents it in this book is both cherry picking, simplified, and anecdotal. Can he show us that his method, which I find just not right the way he does it, has given better results than the one he criticizes? Are there not as many methods as there are people? Why is his method so much better than the ones that had led multiple people to Christ before? Maybe because it is not about numbers. Maybe Comfort is wrong, and so are the mass crusades where the hands up for accepting Christ. Comfort does not manage to show us that those crusades washed out the message before asking people to accept Christ, and too many details other than the numbers are left. Yes, I have sympathy, but I disagree with both the analysis and the solution. Even if Ray Comfort is not necessarily wrong in the message itself.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Comfort has written a terrific book. He reminds the reader to avoid neglecting the role of the law when bringing sinners to Christ and preaching the gospel message. It is a schoolmaster, it reveals the inner corruption of man’s heart, and the ultimate need for a Savior.

Comfort also pushes hard against the modern message that Christianity is about living a comfortable, happy, and fulfilled life. He highlights the lives of the disciples, martyrs, the Apostle Paul, and Christ himself, whose evangelistic messages were far more substantive than merely saying turn to Christ for happiness. Rather, the message of the gospel is turn to Christ for salvation and enteral life; To flee from the wrath to come and be welcomed into the arms of a merciful, kind, and gracious Savior. This is the good news of the gospel.