God's Prevailing Plan

I'm joining my pastor and others as we read through the Bible in 90 days. When he invited us, my first thought was, no way. I can barely do this in a year. And when I try, I don't enjoy it. It's too much information, too fast. When I read the Bible I like to take my sweet time and dwell on passages, often with a time line and maps to refer to. Not rush through them.

But when our pastor said we could use the audio to supplement our reading, I thought I'd commit. So... here I am flying through the Old Testament. I'm actually very surprised at how vivid the images are in my mind as I listen. Much more vivid than when I've read these words in the past. Maybe it's because these very familiar stories are entering my brain through a different path.

The upside of going through the Bible fast is that it's easier to grasp the big picture. And one thing that stands out to me, as I see the big picture is this; God's plans prevail. God's Kingdom has existed since time began. All other kingdoms come and go. God's Kingdom is eternal.

Some kingdoms seem to be all powerful and seem to last forever. But as you look through all of history you'll see that's not true. Man-made kingdoms are just that. Man-made. God allows earthly kingdoms to rise and fall, to fulfill HIS PURPOSES.

“He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.” (Job 12:23‭-‬25)

When you read through the Bible this fast, the overall perspective that you get is amazing. Kingdoms come. Kingdoms go. Some leaders honor God. Others don't. And there are always consequences to those decisions.

Is it the same today? I don't know why we’d think otherwise. We're blind if we fail to realize that there will be consequences for governments, entire cultures and individual people when they choose to turn their backs on God and on Biblical values. We don't see because we lack the perspective of history. We are bogged down in the details of here and now.

Through every event of the Bible, God was there. Through every event of all of history, God was there. Through every event of today, God is here. Through every event of tomorrow, God will be there. God sees it all and is extremely patient as He gives us chance after chance to recognize His Presence and His authority. And there will be consequences to decisions made all through history.

In addition to the big sweeping stories of centuries of history, interspersed throughout the Bible are stories of the little person. Those that honored God and those that didn't. Hurting individuals that felt alone and forgotten. But when they called out to God with a sincere, humble heart, He heard and responded. Over and over and over, the Bible tells of how God is moved by the cry of a repentant heart. No matter who it is; great or small. 

God is the same today. He is very present. He is very aware. Nothing escapes His attention. And in spite of His grandeur and majesty He stoops down and invites us to come to Him. This is the reason God came as a man (Jesus) and died for us. The whole of the Bible, written over centuries by many different authors, consistently points to God’s plan of redemption through the cross.

Any intellectually honest person would find it next to impossible to reject the Biblical message if they would only take the time to dig into this treasure.

“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord , that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Psalm 86:8‭-‬13)