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The Lord Jesus Christ offers not only comfort from our burdens in this life but most especially the true rest in the heavenly kingdom.
EVERYBODY hopes for a good life and a good future. Surely, you do, too. And whether it is in writing or not, structured and detailed or not, most likely, you have a plan in mind that you believe would lead to that goal.
To make your plan work, there are factors you take into account. You might explore the odds and opportunities, assess your strengths and weaknesses, or weigh the possible implications and impacts. But, have you considered what God has planned for you?
You should, because as the Creator, God is the supreme authority on humankind’s welfare. He alone knows what is truly good for the people He created; He is the source of all good things (I Chr. 29:11-12).
Yes, God has a plan to make you benefit from the good He has laid in store:
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jer. 29:11 New Living Translation)
God has planned to bring all people together under one head, Jesus Christ:
“… 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 Today’s English Version)
This divine plan is fulfilled by gathering the people in the body of Christ, which is the Church:
“God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. The church is Christ’s body, …” (Eph. 1:22-23 TEV)
This Church where people are brought together according to God’s plan is the Church Of Christ (Eph. 4:12 Norlie’s Simplified New Testament).
Of all the things people deem good, nothing can be more precious than the salvation God gives through Christ. This is the solution to all people’s gravest problem, which is being condemned to suffer the second death in the lake of fire as the full payment for their sins (Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Rev. 20:14).
To be freed from this eternal punishment, one must be forgiven of sin. As God has planned, this is by being bought or redeemed through Christ’s blood:
“God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done. … Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. …” (Eph. 1:5, 7 New Life Version)
Those forgiven of their sins became God’s children. They are the members of the Church Of Christ, which Christ redeemed with His blood:
“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.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
The Church Of Christ is necessary not because it is the Savior but because it is the one Christ will save (Eph. 5:23). In fact, in God’s master plan, salvation is for Christ’s Church:
“May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:21 Living Bible)
God’s plan of salvation will work for you when you join the Church Of Christ. This is for your supreme good since to be a member of this one and only redeemed Church is to partake of the inheritance from God, the Father:
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:12-14 New International Version)
That inheritance is the heavenly kingdom of light, the Holy City, where perfect life is not a dream but a reality:
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. … ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” (Rev. 21:2, 4 New King James Version)
In the Holy City, there will be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor death. Is there a future as bright as this in this world? Certainly none. But you can have this by following the plan that God our Father has laid down.
So, learn more about God’s master plan of salvation and make it work for you, while there’s still a chance to do so.
