PLANS A, B, C, OR GOD'S PLAN
It has been said, “Life is what happens when you make plans.” I have made many plans – some good and others, well, without godly focus (Matt. 6:19-34). Yet, my plans were never designed to destroy others for the sake of personal gain. This isn’t true for everyone (Job 24:14; Ps. 10; Jer. 23:1; Jn. 10:10). For whatever reason, other people’s intentions have caused me to change my own plans. (Maybe, this is what prompted me to learn various forms of self defense.) People are so capable of great evil (Gen. 6:5-8; Matt. 15:19-20a; Rom. 3:23). In response to this, I have learned to be flexible with my plans.
Now that I am older, the more alert I am concerning the motives of people (Eph. 4:11-16; 6:10-20; 1 Pet. 5:6-11). As a youth, I never planned for people to endeavor to get me to do wrong. Yet, both kids and adults offered me opportunities to drink alcohol, take drugs, and indulge in pornography (Job 31:1; Prov. 23:20-21; Rom. 13:13-14; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-26; Eph. 5:11-21). I have been spit on, hit, threatened with violence, and even hated. I have been chased by thugs and cursed at by people I never even knew. I have had a machine gun pointed at me (Soviet Union – 1988 as a missionary) and my life threatened twice more (Genesis 6:11-13; 2 Sam. 22:47-49; Ps. 11:5; Prov. 3:31-35). But I never made plans to be in any gang or sought to usurp any government.
I had many friends growing up and most of them were good people. But one of my “friends”, a boy of similar age, attempted to have “relations” with me (1 Cor. 6:18-20; 2 Cor. 12:21). Twice as a young boy, I had adult men make advances on me. One man licked his lips and offered other sexual gestures. The other man attempted to get me in his vehicle as I was walking to school. As an adult, I have been solicited by both males and females – before marriage and during marriage (Rom. 1:18-3:31; Eph. 5). Why? I didn’t request their advances nor accept them; yet, I had to deal with it and make tactical plans for it.
It amazes me to observe the planned scorn people have toward God (Ps. 68:1-2; Matt. 6:24; Rom. 1:28-32; 1 Jn. 4:20-21). These people choose not to see, even, the basics of His creation (Ps. 19; Rom. 1:18-25). It is no wonder that they, and those of like mind, fall quickly to the depths of ungodliness when the correct teachings of God are removed from their lifestyle (2 Pet. 2:1ff; Jude 1:3ff). And, since they prefer an ungodly existence, they become heirs of wickedness – desiring, by their nature, to tear down God’s plan for mankind (Jn. 8:42-47). Followers of Christ are symbolic of what they detest – godliness (Lk. 8:4-8; Acts 7:51-60; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Pet. 3:12-22). You see, I don’t plan to hurt others; I just plan to live and speak in a way that would make God happy.
Sure, I have hurt others by my ungodly actions and, thankfully, by following God’s plan I have forgiveness (Dan. 4:27; Acts 8:9-24; 2 Tim. 2:25-26). Even the apostle Paul hurt Jesus by persecuting and murdering Christians (Acts 9:1ff). It’s nice to know that by following God’s plan that he had forgiveness as well (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-21; 26:1-32; contrast, Heb. 10:26-31). Parents, please listen! I grew up in a loving and godly home. Sadly, my parents couldn’t save me from the evil of this world nor will I be able to protect my own children from the works of Satan (Eph. 6:12). People who did things to me or tried to do things against me may or may not have known that I was a Christian. Does it matter? In God’s eyes, these ungodly people were hurting one of His own – Christ Himself (Acts 9:4-5). If all these things happened to me, and so many other followers of Christ, what about the homes where the teachings God do not exist or, consequently, homes where God does not inhabit? What about the homes where abuse: physical, sexual, and psychological, take place on a on a daily basis? What about the homes where pornography (including “romance” novels), drugs, violent tempers, alcohol and all kinds of ungodliness run unbridled?
The good news (or the good plan) is that there is One who has been just as tortured, ridiculed, and defiled by the likes of pure Evil (Matt. 4; Lk. 4; Heb. 4:15). His name is Jesus. You see, Jesus’ plan never changed. He never had to adjust His perfect plan (He didn’t go to any plan B; i.e., what dispensational premillennialism teaches). He came, lived, and died the perfect and sinless sacrifice for all who would choose Him (Matt. 9:13; 18:12; Lk. 19:10; Heb. 10:12-14). Everyone, for sure, has been the victim of evil. Don’t be inflexible as to NOT change your plans toward His perfect plan – and stick with it. Turn to God and seek His strength to help you overcome the evil that is in this world (Acts 2; Eph. 1:15-2:10). My plans can’t save you, but Jesus’ plan can save you.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Now that I am older, the more alert I am concerning the motives of people (Eph. 4:11-16; 6:10-20; 1 Pet. 5:6-11). As a youth, I never planned for people to endeavor to get me to do wrong. Yet, both kids and adults offered me opportunities to drink alcohol, take drugs, and indulge in pornography (Job 31:1; Prov. 23:20-21; Rom. 13:13-14; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-26; Eph. 5:11-21). I have been spit on, hit, threatened with violence, and even hated. I have been chased by thugs and cursed at by people I never even knew. I have had a machine gun pointed at me (Soviet Union – 1988 as a missionary) and my life threatened twice more (Genesis 6:11-13; 2 Sam. 22:47-49; Ps. 11:5; Prov. 3:31-35). But I never made plans to be in any gang or sought to usurp any government.
I had many friends growing up and most of them were good people. But one of my “friends”, a boy of similar age, attempted to have “relations” with me (1 Cor. 6:18-20; 2 Cor. 12:21). Twice as a young boy, I had adult men make advances on me. One man licked his lips and offered other sexual gestures. The other man attempted to get me in his vehicle as I was walking to school. As an adult, I have been solicited by both males and females – before marriage and during marriage (Rom. 1:18-3:31; Eph. 5). Why? I didn’t request their advances nor accept them; yet, I had to deal with it and make tactical plans for it.
It amazes me to observe the planned scorn people have toward God (Ps. 68:1-2; Matt. 6:24; Rom. 1:28-32; 1 Jn. 4:20-21). These people choose not to see, even, the basics of His creation (Ps. 19; Rom. 1:18-25). It is no wonder that they, and those of like mind, fall quickly to the depths of ungodliness when the correct teachings of God are removed from their lifestyle (2 Pet. 2:1ff; Jude 1:3ff). And, since they prefer an ungodly existence, they become heirs of wickedness – desiring, by their nature, to tear down God’s plan for mankind (Jn. 8:42-47). Followers of Christ are symbolic of what they detest – godliness (Lk. 8:4-8; Acts 7:51-60; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Pet. 3:12-22). You see, I don’t plan to hurt others; I just plan to live and speak in a way that would make God happy.
Sure, I have hurt others by my ungodly actions and, thankfully, by following God’s plan I have forgiveness (Dan. 4:27; Acts 8:9-24; 2 Tim. 2:25-26). Even the apostle Paul hurt Jesus by persecuting and murdering Christians (Acts 9:1ff). It’s nice to know that by following God’s plan that he had forgiveness as well (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-21; 26:1-32; contrast, Heb. 10:26-31). Parents, please listen! I grew up in a loving and godly home. Sadly, my parents couldn’t save me from the evil of this world nor will I be able to protect my own children from the works of Satan (Eph. 6:12). People who did things to me or tried to do things against me may or may not have known that I was a Christian. Does it matter? In God’s eyes, these ungodly people were hurting one of His own – Christ Himself (Acts 9:4-5). If all these things happened to me, and so many other followers of Christ, what about the homes where the teachings God do not exist or, consequently, homes where God does not inhabit? What about the homes where abuse: physical, sexual, and psychological, take place on a on a daily basis? What about the homes where pornography (including “romance” novels), drugs, violent tempers, alcohol and all kinds of ungodliness run unbridled?
The good news (or the good plan) is that there is One who has been just as tortured, ridiculed, and defiled by the likes of pure Evil (Matt. 4; Lk. 4; Heb. 4:15). His name is Jesus. You see, Jesus’ plan never changed. He never had to adjust His perfect plan (He didn’t go to any plan B; i.e., what dispensational premillennialism teaches). He came, lived, and died the perfect and sinless sacrifice for all who would choose Him (Matt. 9:13; 18:12; Lk. 19:10; Heb. 10:12-14). Everyone, for sure, has been the victim of evil. Don’t be inflexible as to NOT change your plans toward His perfect plan – and stick with it. Turn to God and seek His strength to help you overcome the evil that is in this world (Acts 2; Eph. 1:15-2:10). My plans can’t save you, but Jesus’ plan can save you.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves