A Good Plan

 Write From My Heart / November 7, 2020 / A Good Plan

            Our worse-than-not-so-good situation found relief through the steadfast faith of Noah; a man who refused to succumb to the pressures of worldly temptations. Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8). God rescued Noah and his family; and not only this, but the consequences that extended to animal life also found reprieve. Mankind, flora, and fauna would once again cover the earth with God’s promise, “Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life,” (Genesis 9:15).  Indeed, the next promise of total destruction would not be the result of water, but of fire.

2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief [unexpectedly]. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

            What possible hope could there be? God provided man with the ability to make choices. Yet even from the beginning God in his infinite wisdom already knew what to do.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

            God’s plan was simple. It had all the necessary qualities to serve its intended purpose and produce favorable results. The plan had no defect; it was honorable, worthy, dependable and thorough in every way. It was a Good Plan.

God’s Good Plan

Christ would be born in human form.

Christ’s death, the perfect sacrifice, would pay the price for our sins.

Christ would rise again.

John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. … The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Luke 2:11 (NIV) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 1:18-19 (NIV) Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient. 

Isaiah 53:4-6, 12 (NIV) Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities’ the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way’ and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. … For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

John 3:17 (NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 24:6-8 (NIV) He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Then they remembered his words.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            We have sinned against you in thought, in word, and in deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone. In our sinful state you reached down to us in love and mercy. What words can express our gratitude for the great gift of your Son, Jesus Christ? Forgive our many failings and guide us in the path that leads toward your soon-coming Kingdom.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.