Thought for Today
1 Chronicles 28:19 "All this, in writing at the LORD's direction, he made clear to me-- the plan of all the works."
Isaiah 5:18 Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood, who drag sin along as with cart ropes, 19 who say, "Let him make haste, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfillment, that we may know it!"
Acts 2:23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Often, when things seem to have progressed just as I or someone around me wishes, I blithely comment, “It’s as though someone had a plan.” I usually offer that comment a bit offhandedly, without much more than a passing thought.
Yet, the idea and understanding that our Creator God does, in fact, have a plan from Genesis 1:1 (and before) until the final “day of the Lord” is a fundamental tenet of Judaism and Christianity. Our belief in a plan and purpose to Creation is in stark contrast to the pagan religions which understood the interaction between their gods and humanity as primarily one of capricious, sometimes malicious interference by those gods in the lives of humans.
David had received God’s direction, God’s plan of all the works associated with building the Temple in Jerusalem. David handed God’s plan to his son Solomon who then implemented God’s plan. David appears to be supremely confident that he knows the plan of God. Much later, the prophet Isaiah seems to indicate that he is a bit less sure of God’s plan, referencing that plan but asking for its fulfillment so that the people could know (and understand?) God’s plan.
Some days, God’s plan for me seems clear and I seem to understand, in my finitude, the plan of our infinite God. Most days, I seem to be looking into Paul’s dim mirror . . . or maybe it’s my eyes (and understanding) that are dim and the mirror itself is just fine. One of my favorite hymns is Amazing Grace. Obviously, it is a great hymn that should always be heard played on bagpipes! But, for those of you who are heathens and cannot abide bagpipes (Greta!), focus not on the tune, but on the theology of the words.
John Newton understood at least one important aspect of God’s plan. The 3rd verse of that hymn reveals the truth that , “My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.” Just as I wrote yesterday, “I have read the Creation narrative in Genesis. I know that every act of creation concluded with some version of “And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25) The Bible sums it all up with, “1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” John Newton had obviously read those same verses in Genesis.
I believe we pray each week during worship for the realization of God’s plan. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Although I cannot fully imagine what that will be like, I earnestly pray for that often. How do we work to make that happen? The Bible offers us clues. Read Micah 6:8, Luke 10:27. Read the Great Commission, “Matthew 28:19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
“John 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” Was Paul correct, will I know fully when I get to that place prepared for me? He was correct about my being fully known by God. I believe that when we get to God’s ‘house’ in eternity, we will know everything we are capable of knowing. That’s enough. We will be with the God who loved us so much that he sent his Son to accomplish our salvation. Our gift from our God who does have a plan.
Stay safe, live to bring about the Kingdom of God, trust God,
Pastor Ray