Many people reject God’s eternal plan. Their disbelief keeps them from knowing His love, mercy, and forgiveness. They refuse to accept Him as the sole creator of humanity and the universe. And when it comes to sin, their blindness to the truth of transgressions enslaves them to devastating consequences (Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:8-10, John 8:34). 

Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:6-7), causing a significant separation between them and God. They became conscious of good and evil. Their disobedience cost them life in the Garden of Eden, and God handed out discipline (Genesis 3:11-19).

Their sin caused every human to enter the world and experience a departure from God’s sovereignty (Romans 5:12). From this point onward, God put into action His eternal plan (Genesis 3:22, John 14:6).

Old Testament Salvation

The neat reality of salvation is that knowing God’s eternal plan dates back to the Old Testament. We are fortunate to understand the truth of the Lord’s interaction with humanity, including His blueprint for redemption. Each of His Prophets gives testimony of God’s gift of salvation.

In the book of Leviticus, we learn how God forgave sin. His first commandments of atonement came from Moses. Our Father revealed to Moses that the offerings of sin and trespass sacrifices bring forth His forgiveness (Leviticus 4 5 6:1-7). These acts of repentance showed God their remorse for their sins.

Unlike Christ’s sacrifice, these rituals were frequent because God did not intend the animal blood to overcome sin. No, God’s Old Testament plan didn’t include a one-time sacrifice for the reparation of transgression.

Besides those acts of repentance, God used prophets to call His people back into His grace. Most of them prayed to God to bring His chosen ones out of sin and into favor with His precepts. But they kept showing God disobedience. So, the Lord used Isaiah to prophesy about His new eternal plan (Isaiah 7:14).

God’s Sacrifice

God’s sacrifice is astonishing. He discarded the Old Testament offerings by replacing them with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. This remarkable change from commanding believers to offer sin penance to one He gave for the forgiveness of inequities.

God’s eternal plan rests on faith in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.  

It’s hard to understand that God shows me and others an incredible display of His unconditional love. But Jesus revealed to Nicodemus God’s undeniable affection for humanity (John 3:16). Besides this reality, Christ said God’s plan isn’t about condemnation but salvation (John 3:17).

We are fortunate to know His history with humanity and the insight into our eternal future. As believers, He anointed us with the Holy Spirit and allowed us the wisdom to understand Christ’s Deity (John 16:12-15).

It’s through His Spirit I understand the significance of the Cross. Without knowing and accepting Christ’s sacrifice, my belief isn’t enough. I must, without reservation, be convicted of this truth. And when I show God my trust in His plan, He rewards me with blessings beyond my expectation.   

Christ understood the reason for Him to give up His life for God’s eternal plan. Jesus did ask the Father to relieve Him from this act of love (Luke 22:42). But He took on the torture, suffering, and humiliation to secure God’s new covenant with humanity.

Christ’s powerful bloodshed at the cross convinced a centurion and his soldiers that He was God’s Son (Matthew 27:54). They witnessed God’s unimaginable love for the world’s salvation. Now, if they can see it, it leaves me without an excuse to concede to my innermost self that Jesus died, arose from the tomb, and now sits at God’s right hand.    

Given these points, we know God’s eternal plan. It’s in Christ the effect of God’s love, forgiveness, and residence in heaven emerge. I must deny myself and abide in Christ to gain access to His kingdom.

How do you see God’s eternal plan?