God has Wonderful Plans for You
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31a -NKJV).
As God was finishing up the sixth day of creation, He looked around at His handiwork and saw, “It was very good”. It included every thing we need; light, water, plants and trees, fish, birds, land animals, and, finally, mankind (1:3-27 NKJV et.al). On the seventh day God rested, not because He needed it, but as an example for us to rest and worship one day a week.
“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Genesis 2:8). In Eden God provided a perfect environment making “every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food” (vs. 9). “…God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (vs.15). He also asked Adam to name all the animals (Genesis 2:19). Typical of God’s extravagant grace, He gave Adam more than his needs. He watered Eden with four rivers, including the modern river, Euphrates. He even mentioned bdellium and onyx stones and gold near Eden and said the gold was “good” (Genesis 1:10-14).
Seven times God had said His creation was “good.” Now for the first time He finds something “not good.” “And the Lord God said, ‘it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:18). God put Adam to sleep, took one of his ribs, created Eve, and presented her to Adam as his wife (vss. 21-22). What a glorious day! When Adam saw Eve, he spoke his first recorded words: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; …” (Genesis 2:23). He meant, “Wow! This is the rest of me. I wasn’t all here before she came!” All husbands should say “Amen!”
God had a wonderful plan for Adam and Eve, including full employment, a paradise home, plenty of food, and perfect fellowship with Him. It was, therefore, very sad that Adam and Eve both sinned and lost that paradise home (Genesis 3:1-6). They were ashamed and tried to hide from God (vss. 7-8). God did not give up on them. He lovingly sought them and confronted them (3:9). Adam blamed his wife and Eve blamed the serpent. They lost Eden, but God also revealed His plan of salvation. “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). This is an early picture of the cross. The blood shed by those animals whose skins covered Adam and Eve previewed the blood Jesus shed on the cross to cover our sins.
Throughout the Bible we see God’s loving plans to bless the world, and man’s rejection of His love. God is still reaching out to a sinful hurting world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus died for our sins but arose from the dead the third day and is alive to save and keep us.
Here are His plans for you: Believe in Jesus and be saved from your sins and receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. But that’s not all. Jesus wants you to have a full and meaningful life here. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b). You can represent Jesus in the world now in extending His love to a lost world through His church. When Jesus comes back to earth, you can reign with Him 1000 years on earth and then live forever with Him in Heaven. Are these great plans or what? God loves you and invites you to get in on these plans. Will you accept His invitation by receiving and following Jesus today? Amen!