God Always Has A Plan
Are there points in your day when you think, "Man, what is going ON in this world?! I always think about what 1 Peter 4:12 says, "Don’t think it strange when fiery trials come upon you." Basically, God is sovereign. He knows exactly what is going to happen. The world we live in says, "Make it happen." "You are in control of your destiny."
But God's ultimate aim is His own glory and name being made known.
He is just in all His dealings. He alone is righteous. Justice and righteousness belong to Him. It is of the utmost importance that HE receive all the glory due His name.
This justice and righteousness was displayed when He showed the worth of His glory in sending His Son to die so that He might pass over sins and justify the ungodly. This is the plan is now:
2 Corinthians 5:9 "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent (in the body), to be well pleasing to Him."
You may be hearing many speak about where we are in the timeline of eternity. We are living in extremely turbulent times. Here are God's thoughts on such things:
Psalms 2:1-12
“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the One who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger He rebukes them, terrifying them with His fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today, I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’” Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal Son, (the NKJV states - Kiss the Son) or He will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for His anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in Him!”
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way.
God is jealous for his Son. “You shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). His anger is kindled when the affection assigned for Him is given to another. The kiss here is the kiss of adoration and submission.
The time of playing games with God is over. If we love another more, we will perish. He will have no others above Him. He will be all or He will be our enemy. The safest place in the universe is at the feet of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. If we choose to turn from Him and put another in His rightful place, His wrath will be against us.
. . . for his wrath is quickly kindled.
The word quickly may not be the best here. The word can mean in a sense; suddenly. Repeatedly in the Bible, God is said to be “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Not “quick to anger” but “slow to anger”. Psalm 2:12 means “His wrath can break out suddenly.” In other words don’t test His patience because it may run out and you be suddenly overtaken in wrath. If you continue kissing His creation and not His Son, suddenly you may experience His anger. Don’t presume God's long-suffering, mercy and grace will last forever.
So to “kiss the son” means to embrace discipline.
We Americans are so rights-driven that we assume God owes us something. You know what? Newsflash: God owes you nothing. Your life is a gift. You have it on loan from God. It is His rightful due and our duty to joyfully serve Him while embracing correction when needed.
Proverbs 15:5
A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.
So how should we now live in light of this?
Let's go back to what some are saying where we are in God's timeline of eternity. Many say we are living in the very last days, the end of the world as we know it. It's very dangerous when people say this. Why? Well, Jesus Himself warned of this.
Matthew 24:4-14; "What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."
So, God really does have a plan. We just have to trust that.
I know these are scary times we're living in. It says many will grow cold to the faith. Sin will be rampant everywhere. BUT! The one who endures to the end will be saved. SEE? We have a job to do; preach the Good News that the Kingdom of God is here. Jesus is its King.
And He has it all under control.