As I write this
article, I find myself anxiously awaiting the birth of my daughter. Yes, I know
that she is not due until September 18th, :) but I’m still anxiously looking
forward to Naomi’s arrival. Yet, there is one thing I’m not looking forward to:
dating. As a father, I know that we need to question the plans of those who
come to date our daughter, since I was also one of those questionable punk
teens. ;) Many have come up with practical rules for dating one’s daughter like
“Use your hands on my daughter and you’ll lose them after.” And “If your pants
hang off your hips, I’ll gladly secure them with my nail gun.” etc. :)
Thus, motives need to be
questioned. However, one whose motives do not need to be question is the Lord
Himself. Why do His motives not need to be questioned? Answer: because He
clearly revealed them in His Word from eternity past. “May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good
for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20-21).
As we study the pages
of the Bible we learn that God had a plan from eternity past to eternity future
to know, experience and live in His perfect peace. Biblical peace speaks of
completeness, health, justice, prosperity, and protection. It is a peace which
calms any internal conflict. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other
forces are at war within us, but the peace of God moves in our hearts and lives
to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of the conflict. It
is a peace that passes all understanding.
How was this peace made
possible for us? It is made available to us through the blood of the eternal
covenant (Heb. 13:20). From eternity past, God had a plan to create mankind so
that we might enjoy a relationship with Him and the peace that He offers. However,
mankind rebelled against God ever since the Garden of Eden.; and God knew that
this would take place even before He created mankind. Therefore, He likewise
had a plan to restore that peace before we ever rebelled against Him.
God’s plan of peace with
mankind was revealed immediately following the first sin that ever took place
(Gen. 3:15). The punishment for sin, our rebellion has always been death (Rom.
6:23; Heb. 9:22). However, God provided a means for us not to experience the
punishment that our sins demand. In the Garden of Eden, it was the blood of
animals that God created, knowing in advance that they would be used to cover
Adam and Eve’s sin (Gen. 3:21). This in and of itself would be a picture of
what was to come, the Lamb of God, Jesus, who would die taking away our sin.
Jesus’s death was in
accordance with God’s eternal plan (Acts 2:23). In fact, Scripture even states
that Jesus was “slain from the foundations of the world” (Rev. 13:8). “In
eternity, God planned for the Son of God to step into history to provide the
ultimate sacrifice—the sinless Son of God would suffer sin’s penalty of death,
be raised from the dead, thus providing a way of salvation” (Ken Ham, “Slain
from the Foundation of the World” available from https://answersingenesis.org/ministry-news/creation-museum/slain-from-the-foundation-of-the-world/).
God knew and planned
through His great sovereignty to work through people and their own freewill
decisions to accomplish His plan of peace for mankind. Even when we were His enemies,
and hostile towards Him, He accomplished His wonderful plan of peace (Rom.
5:10). God knew the battle that would rage between Satan and those seeking to
follow God, yet He orchestrated His eternal plan of peace through endless
trials (Rev. 12:17).
When He created the
stars in the heavens for signs and seasons, declaring His glory (Gen. 1:14; Ps.
19:1), He created and knew the star that would guide the wise-men to Bethlehem
at the time that the eternal Son of God became a man (Matt. 2:10). And when the hands of sinful men nailed Jesus
to the cross of their own freewill, they were actually fulfilling His eternal
plan of peace. The eternal covenant of peace rules the universe. God will
accomplish His plan for our lives, a plan not to harm us, but a plan of peace,
hope, and a future with Him (Jer. 29:11). That is God’s motivation behind what
He does.
But have you come to
peace with God? You can. It is through a personal relationship with His Son. If
you would like to know about having peace with God, I encourage you to join us
on Sunday mornings at 10:30.
“Now may the Lord of
peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with
all of you” (2 Thess. 3:16).
In His service,
Matt
No comments:
Post a Comment