God made you to be in a relationship with him and he was prepared to do anything to preserve and restore that relationship if need be - even if it meant letting his Son, Jesus, suffer and die for you. He makes us a new creation. He says, ‘Long before you were even a "twinkle in my eye", I made sure through Jesus that you would always be in my eye, in my love, living as my child. Always. I planned that first. And then I made everything else.’
You were not a footnote to whatever year you were born. Your birth into this world was a great day of celebration for God. At that moment the one he had planned since before the creation of the world—you—came into the creation he had prepared for you. When a new baby is born this isn’t an afterthought on God's part. He might have waited thousands of years (and we think nine months is a long time to wait) but that new life is all part of God's eternal plan.
This whole concept is mind bending in the least. It is an attempt at seeing God’s plans for us and all creation from a distance. I know we can’t do this to any great extent – certainly not see the big picture as God does. But it does help to know that in spite of all the disasters that might hit us and the world around us, these things are not outside his control. In view of the big picture of things he can use all this to bring blessing and a stronger relationship with him.
You and I are always first in God's eyes. Paul makes it quite plain to his Ephesian friends that even before the world was created God placed us in a relationship with him because of his love for us. Because of ‘his glorious grace’ he was ready to do whatever was needed to rebuild his relationship with each one of us. As far as God is concerned, you are number one.
A reminder of this fact is our baptism. This past Sunday, we gathered around the baptismal font and celebrated the baptism of Grayson, just six months old. There is nothing I enjoy more than a baptism, for in that moment, we get a glimpse of the gift of pure grace, and the promise of God's unconditional love.
God marks us with Jesus’ cross in our baptism. God gives us his name in our baptism and publicly declares, "Long before you entered this world, I planned you as mine, and then I made the world, and the family, and the community to place you in.
But you have failed? Your sin has mucked up my plans.
I forgive you. I forgive you.
I love you now in the same way I loved you before the world was created and always will love you.
When you live in a way that reflects my love and my goodness, that is me, my Spirit, working in you. Your goodness doesn't earn you any special place in my plans. It is my Spirit strengthening and guiding you to be the person whom I always planned you to be!"
It’s all a matter of perspective. Three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon - an artist, a pastor, and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that massive geological marvel, each one responded with a cry of exclamation.
The artist said, "Ah, what a beautiful scene to paint!"
The minister cried, "What a beautiful example of the handiwork of God!"
The cowboy mused, "What a terrible place to lose a cow!"
The cowboy could only see the problems the Grand Canyon placed in front of him. Sometimes we are the same. It’s easy to be a pessimist.
Look at the bigger picture and see the beauty of his love, his never-ending faithfulness, his forgiveness, and total commitment to each of us.
Every now and then we have to step back and look at the bigger picture. In the whirl of daily living and the many problems and issues that confront us and challenge our self-worth we need to step back and look at where we fit into God’s plan.
Step back for a moment and remind yourself that you were planned by God before the creation of the world. His love for you has never wavered. And as we look at the cross we see that same commitment to each of us today as back then.
Some people talk about ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’ or ‘good luck’ or ‘bad luck’ as if things happen in our lives randomly without any order. It’s as if things just happen. It’s as if there was no controlling power. It’s like reading ‘Your week by the stars’ in the paper and saying that things happen because your star sign says they will. That is so far from what God says to us through the Scriptures. Paul does talk about ‘destiny’. Our destiny as God’s own dear children is to walk with Jesus, to enjoy his grace and forgiveness, and finally enter our eternal home in heaven. There is nothing left to good luck or chance here. God has made sure of this through the death and resurrection Jesus. We have the power and love of God at our disposal.
Peace,
Pastor Charlie
(excerpts for this week's blog from a sermon by Pastor Vince Gerhardy)
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