An Overview of God’s Eternal Plan
As strange as it may seem, the eternal plan that God has had for this world can be summed up in just a few short statements. Just suppose that you were asked to give an overview of this plan, what phrases or words would you choose? With this in mind, let me suggest four eternal truths about God’s plan. Here’s my list. How would you briefly express the truths all mankind needs to know?
God has an Eternal Plan for man.
God has spoken. The fact Jehovah has spoken affirms that He exists. If He is truly the Supreme One, He must have existed eternally. His Deity and His power can be known to all mankind, for in every language on earth the heavens proclaim His glory (Rom. 1:20; Psa. 19:1-2). God is and God has spoken.
Throughout history God has spoken in many ways. For many centuries, He spoke through the prophets, but at the end, He has spoken through Jesus and His prophets. When God’s revelation was completed, He left us the Bible which completely furnishes us (Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When the Man of Galilee lived on this earth, some did not fully understand who He was. But He is in truth “….the Christ the Son of the living God.” God confirmed His claims by “…miracles and wonders and signs.” These signs are recorded so that we might believe Emmanuel came. This faith empowers us to become God’s children.” (Matt. 16:16; Acts 2:22; John 20:30-31; John 1:12).
God’s plan resulted in all men enjoying His promises in the establishment of the one body, the church. He did not immediately reveal His plan for our redemption. It existed before the world began but was fully revealed through Jesus’ apostles and prophets. The plan was “…the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:3-6). The steps of faith to enter that church are clearly revealed and easily understood.
We must all appear before God to give an account of how we have lived. At the end, Jesus will return, and all men who have ever lived will stand before the great white throne to be judged by how they have lived. There will be a separation made between those who have followed God’s teachings as they are recorded in the books of the Bible and those who have not sought His will. Some will hear the words “Come, you blessed of My Father,” and others will hear, “Depart from Me.” Eternal justice will be meted out (2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:30-31; Matt. 25:34, 41; John 5:28-29; John 12:48. Rev. 20:11-15).
It is not enough to know the truths just mentioned. What matters is how you are responding to them!