"For I Know"

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

Various false concepts about God negatively impact the unaware or those new to Christianity. These concepts are magnified when believers are part of a church that is not Bible-based. Jeremiah reveals God's true nature.

“God helps those who help themselves.” This is a horrible nonbiblical narrative. We humans are unable to help ourselves with anything. Through Jeremiah, God says, “For I know the plans I have for you.”  Yes, we have free will, but in most cases, it leads us the wrong way. Paul tells us in Romans, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (3:23) We have a nature of sin; it is in our essence. We cannot correct it, which is why God came in the flesh. In our salvation, we are saints who sin, and we are forgiven.

God also told us His plans for us are not evil. God does not punish us, His saints, for our sins. We will face repercussions of our own making because of our poor decisions, but God forgives even these self-made setbacks so we may learn and His glory be displayed, like the man born blind. In the first century, it was believed everything that went wrong in someone's life was because they had sinned. This thought still carries through today in non-biblical-based churches. When asked who sinned that the man was born blind, Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Often our trials are for God's glory and to mold us.

In the Book of Job, his ordained testing by Satan was to display God’s glory. Today someone might say, “Job, you just do not have enough faith," or react like Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar, accusing one of sinning. These are all false concepts about God. Job was tested for God's glory, and God prayed for Job during his testing, just as Christ prayed for Peter when Satan asked to sift him like wheat.

Solomon wrote, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) We plan our way, and things often go amiss; however, before time, God planned each step we take, correcting us on His path to Him.

The assurance in this one passage of Jeremiah is so great. The Old Testament is said to be about our God as an angry God, yet in all the disobedience of Israel, God continues to make a way for them. He gave them the prophets, and Israel killed them. He gave them Judges who became self-serving and corrupt. He gave them Kings because they wanted to be like other countries, and the Kings turned from God. He even used Gentile kings to teach and move Israel forward in His plan.

God is for you, not against you. While you may have troubles in your life, “ we can all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13) An assurance of God. We may suffer in our lives because it molds us into the image of Christ, “Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” (2 Timothy 1:2) While we are saints, we still carry the essence of sin, yet we know we are not condemned. We know, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)

Are you relying on false concepts of God, non-biblical beliefs that keep you in the dark, hidden from the light of Christ? Are you trying to help yourself instead of relying on God? Are you still trying to “work” or “buy” your way to heaven, as so many false religions teach? Come to Christ, kneel before the cross, confess your sins to Him, the risen Son of God, and find salvation in His finished work on that very cross.

Jesus is knocking; all you need to do is open the door and ask Him into your heart. Christ has already completed the work you need for salvation.

Grace and peace.