We sometimes make the mistake of believing - even if only subconsciously - that God's plan of redemption for mankind was Plan B or even Plan C. We argue that if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned there would have been no need of a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the world. And if the Hebrew people hadn't been such a stubborn hard-hearted nation then perhaps the Ten Commandments and their festivals and sacrificial rites might have been enough.
But they weren't.
And we know from what John wrote, that Jesus was present even before the beginning of the earth ... so God's Plan of Salvation must have existed even then.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5, NKJV).
If one needs further argument, then there's God's promise in the Garden of Eden just after sin had entered the world:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV).
When you think about it, there was only ever one Plan: Plan A. And that Plan was a lot about relationships: restoring our relationship with God. Perhaps that's why Easter and Christmas have such a lot of significance on so many levels for Christians.
Yes, we're aware of what Christ has done for us and do not take that lightly. We're also aware that He has brought us into His family and that He wants to restore our relationships here on earth.
That's why, despite the noise and the mess and the challenges, I'll enjoy the relationships I have - and not just this Easter, but always.
But they weren't.
And we know from what John wrote, that Jesus was present even before the beginning of the earth ... so God's Plan of Salvation must have existed even then.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5, NKJV).
If one needs further argument, then there's God's promise in the Garden of Eden just after sin had entered the world:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV).
When you think about it, there was only ever one Plan: Plan A. And that Plan was a lot about relationships: restoring our relationship with God. Perhaps that's why Easter and Christmas have such a lot of significance on so many levels for Christians.
Yes, we're aware of what Christ has done for us and do not take that lightly. We're also aware that He has brought us into His family and that He wants to restore our relationships here on earth.
That's why, despite the noise and the mess and the challenges, I'll enjoy the relationships I have - and not just this Easter, but always.
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