“For I Know the Plans.”

“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)

In the Book of Genesis, we read of God's design for creation. We read of the expanse, the land, the seas, life found in the seas, on the land, and the design of His image, man, then woman.

Genesis is quite amazing in that everything we are and became in the garden, lived through in the expulsion, and the defining rules of our life are laid out. If one denies the creation model, they deny everything that makes us human, good, bad, morality, family, marriage, and life are outlined in Genesis.

In today’s verse from Jeremiah, God tells us the plan and design did not end in the garden. Od did not close up shop and retire. To the contrary, He designed a plan for every single person, and while some were similar, each was unique to the individual. Our God is a living God, and the believer's relationship is a living one.

David wrote, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14) Formed in the womb, knit together from two different DNAs, God creates a unique individual, or a blessing in multiple births, twins, triplets, etc. Each one is a unique design.

Given that each is a unique creation, those elect are common in that God designed us to walk in his way. Paul wrote, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Yet,

Paul also knew we are unable to walk the narrow path of God on our own. He also wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) God knew before creation that mankind would fall; it was His design after all. He knew how, when, and why. In His design, God had decided to rescue the chosen. He did this within Himself, not in a blanket excuse, but by rescue.

You see, while God is merciful and loving, He is also righteous. In this, sins must be paid for, showing that God is just in His decisions and design. The apostle John tells us exactly what God did: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) In Christ was the payment for all sins, every sin, for those who would come to faith in Him, would have their sins forgiven in Christ's penal substitutionary sacrifice. Christ shed His blood as payment for your sins.

The next verse of John 3 is just as important in our understanding of God’s mission of redemption. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17) Christ came not to condemn, but to save those whom He, by grace, would bring to faith in Him. God does it all: He elects, He calls by grace, He gives faith, and He saves. It is free; no contribution on our part impacts our salvation. We tell God, My heart is open, and I am ready. I believe you will save me now, and I need you now.

Have you called on Christ for salvation? Have you come to faith by His grace? Salvation comes by Christ alone. Call on Him now; He is waiting.

Grace and Peace.