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God alone knows what is good for man—He has plans to bring about a prosperous future for man.
IN TODAY’S WORLD, people’s need and longing to handle important matters in their life with great assurance has given birth to the growing demand for professional planners’ expertise. There are financial planners, for instance, who help governments, businesses, and even individuals to secure and increase their financial assets. And then, there’s the social planners, who strategize for the welfare of institutions in society to assure that all parties will achieve the desired results. Indeed, there is what we call today as life planning—a guided process that aims to improve every aspect of an individual’s life.
Man devises such things to improve the quality of his life and the world he lives in. Sad to say, with all of man’s good plans drafted by professional knowledge, he still finds himself somewhat lost, in failure, and in despair. Why is this so? Why can man not accomplish the things that will alleviate his plight in this world although he has abilities? This is because his abilities are not limitless:
“Can anyone be righteous in the sight of God or be pure before his Creator? God does not trust his heavenly servants; he finds fault even with his angels. Do you think he will trust a creature of clay, a thing of dust that can be crushed like a moth? We may be alive in the morning, but die unnoticed before evening comes. All that we have is taken away; we die, still lacking wisdom.” (Job 4:17–21 Good News Bible)
The Bible explains that man is fragile and lacks wisdom. He doesn’t even know the day and hour of his death. Man experiences failure and despair. This only shows that he is not the authority in determining what is good for him and his fellowmen.
Who alone knows what is truly good for man?
“The Lord says … I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” (Jer. 29:10–11 gnb)
God alone knows what is good for man, because He is our Creator. In fact, He has plans to bring about a prosperous future for man. This is what everyone should follow and hope for.
More than the material things in this life, what is God’s most significant plan that man must understand and follow? Apostle Paul said:
“… In all his wisdom and insight God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.” (Eph. 1:8–10 gnb)
God’s plan is to bring all creation together with Christ as head. For this to be fulfilled, God appointed Christ to be the head of the Church:
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Eph. 1:22–23 New International Version)
The Bible describes clearly Christ’s relationship to the Church. He is the head, and the Church, composed of individual members (I Cor. 12:27; Rom. 12:4–5), is His body. Thus, merely having faith in Christ is insufficient for one to have relationship with Christ. One must join the Church for him to have Christ as his head, and thus fulfill the plan of God for man’s own good.
But are all churches of Christ? No. Apostle Paul made it clear that there is only one body or Church that is of Christ (Eph. 4:4). What is the one Church headed by Christ? In Acts 20:28, this is written:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Lamsa Translation)
Hence, when one joins or becomes a member of the Church Of Christ, he subjects himself to the plan that God made for the good of man. To obtain what is most beneficial for him, it is necessary for man to be among the ones gathered and included in the Church Of Christ.
Why are we sure that the Church Of Christ is for the good of man? Because it is God’s master plan of salvation as attested in Ephesians 3:21:
“May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ.” (The Living Bible)
Salvation undeniably is the most beneficial thing that man needs and aspires for. Christ is the Savior, but in order for people to be saved by Him, they must follow the plan of God concerning salvation through Christ. God does not discriminate against anyone—this is why everyone is given the chance to be gathered or united in Christ through the Church Of Christ and thus be saved.
What other blessing is in store for those who are included in the Church Of Christ? In Ephesians 3:6, this is Apostle Paul’s answer:
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (niv)
Members of the true Church, the one body of Christ, are God’s heirs. To be God’s heirs is a great blessing. God is all-powerful and can bring about good things in our life. He can guide us to succeed in all our endeavors for our future and our family. He can heal our illness and provide us a long and happy life in this world.
Moreover, what is the greatest inheritance that God has laid in store for the members of the Church Of Christ? In Revelation 21:1-4, this is recorded:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’.” (niv)
A perfect life awaits the heirs of God in the Holy City. The bitterness, suffering, and cruelty they continue to experience in this world will be replaced with all good things. God will wipe away their tears and will dwell with them forever.
Therefore, man must fulfill his role in God’s master plan of his own salvation, that is, for him to enter and remain in the Church Of Christ. By doing so, he will receive God’s blessings not only in this life but most importantly salvation on the day of Judgment and eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth.
