During the past few days’ studies, we have been considering God’s Grand Plan for the redemption of fallen mankind. What a tremendous privilege and solemn responsibility to be able to consider such a theme. It is epic in its reach, timeless in its extension and irresistible in its motion. The Bible is the means by which the Lord has communicated this plan.
Not only did He outline the Plan fairly clearly in Scripture, but the Bible story (and subsequently, Church history) is the actual unfolding of that Plan. All that remains is the final consummation of His Plan upon earth and the inauguration of its eternal component.
And while God has His purposes for mankind on the whole, we must always remember that the whole is made up of individuals: people like you and me. Our lives make up a small part of that Grand Plan. This is a stupendous thought to consider. If we truly believed what Scripture tells us about this divine design for our lives, we would be tremendously fascinated with it.
There are two thoughts to consider regarding this subject. First, God’s plan of redemption is available to be seen and understood by anyone who cares enough to look. The apostle Peter wrote that although the prophets of old wrote extensively on this subject, they didn’t understand it. They were fascinated with the subject, in spite of the fact they were only allowed small glimpses of it. He also said this Plan was “so strange and wonderful that even the angels in heaven would give a great deal to know more about it.” (1 Peter 1:12 LB)
When Albert Barnes considered the angels’ fascination with this subject, he came to a startling conclusion:
"How amazing, then, is the indifference of man to this great and glorious work… and that, busy and interested as he is in other things, often of a most trifling nature, he has no concern for that on which is suspended his own eternal happiness. If heaven was held in mute astonishment when the Son of God left the courts of glory to be poor, to be persecuted, to bleed, and to die, not less must be the astonishment than when, from those lofty heights, the angelic hosts look down upon a race unconcerned amidst wonders such as those of the incarnation and the atonement!"
I suppose one of Satan’s great sources of carnal delight is when he is able to distract Christians from such noble themes with the trifles of this temporal world. May it be one of the prayers of our hearts that God would renew our appreciation for, and interest in, the great Plan of redemption He has implemented for the saving of our souls!