THREE GREAT EVENTS – Planned Provided Possessed

THE QUESTION has often been asked, “How old is the universe?”  Some theologians would have us believe that it is only 6,000 years old, while others would tell us that it has existed for millions or perhaps billions of years.  Personally, it matters little to me when God breathed this vast universe into existence, whether it was 6,000 years or billions of years ago.  What interests me most is what God did prior to His tremendous act of creation.  Let me explain.

I don’t know what you think about the Holy Bible, but I find it to be a very interesting Book.  Having read it through a few hundred times I have been fully convinced that it is divinely inspired and unerring.  You can stake your soul’s eternal welfare on its truths.  God declares that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine” – meaning “learning or instruction” (2 Timothy 3v16).  Unlike man-made books, newspapers and magazines, the Bible will never deceive, nor lead astray.  It is pure, accurate, divinely inspired and eternal.

It is only the Holy Bible that reveals to us what God planned in His eternal counsels long before the universe had its existence.  I hope that you have enough curiosity to read on and see what the Lord has to say about His unique plan, His tremendous provision to bring it into effect and how you and I can actually possess the benefits of that plan.

GOD PLANNING

In the Bible, God reveals to us startling facts.  One is that, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3v23).  God then proceeds with more facts, such as, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6v23).  This death involves much more than just physical death, it involves eternal punishment.  Gid solemnly warns that those who die in their sins “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21v8).  However, God loves us.  Even before He made the universe, fully knowing that man would sin after He created him, our Great God devised a plan.  What a great event that was.  His plan involved the forgiveness of our sins, an escape from eternal punishment and a glorious eternal home in heaven.  Scripture calls this, “eternal life.”

Eternal life cannot be obtained by any efforts of our own.  God conveys to us the language of a genuine Christian, saying; “Who hath saved us… not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1v9).  “Eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1v2).

CHRIST PROVIDING

Thus, we see the foreknowledge, wisdom and grace of God, planning our redemption long before He even created the universe.  However, as great as a plan may be, there must be the provision to make it effective.  Thank God, the provision was made at the Cross.  What a great event that was.  “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15v3).  Our good works could never procure salvation.  

“None…can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Psalm 49v7).  That Provider was Christ Jesus and God says, “Neither is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4v12).  God continues; “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.  Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1v18-21).

I ACTUALLY POSSESS IT!

Friend, my assurance of a home in heaven does not rest on any church membership or with good works.  It rests in God, Who cannot lie.  “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20v31).  Notice, eternal life is not gained by working, but by believing on Christ.  Not only this, but God says it can be presently possessed.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5v13).  Obtaining eternal life is truly a great event in one’s life.  God has planned it; Christ has paid for it; by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can possess it – even NOW.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” (John 3v36)

Copied with permission: ROBERT E SURGENOR. Evangelist