God Had It All Figured Out <> 1 Peter 1:20-21

God Had It All Figured Out   1 Peter 1:20-21      

(Continuing the study of 1 Peter.)

Before the world was even created, God had it all figured out. He knew Adam and Eve would sin, setting into motion the sinful nature we all contend with every single day. And the worst consequence of that sin was that Mankind was then separated from Father God, without the power to be reconciled. 

Therefore, as part of God’s cosmic plan, He designed the one way that Mankind could be restored back to Himself. 

Internet Photo by Matt Pitt

The Apostle Peter pointed this truth out to the First Century church members, and to us as well. Speaking of Jesus, he said, “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21).

It’s important for us to understand that God is omniscient—He is all knowing. He knows the end before the beginning in every situation. He knew we would need a Savior and that His Son, Jesus, was the only legal and worthy candidate to fill that position for us. Even though we are each created in His image, we’re still not equal to God nor to His Son. As Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 16:6).

As Peter explained, in the times in which they were living, this One who had been foretold was manifest—or revealed—in the flesh to the world. Jesus had come and had fulfilled His mission to bear the burden for the sins of Mankind. 

The writer of Hebrews gave a beautiful description of the incarnation of Jesus and His accomplishment for our benefit. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Looking back again at verse 21, Peter explained that through Jesus, we have the opportunity to believe in and receive God’s redemption plan. God, who raised Jesus from the dead, gave Him glory. Now our faith and hope can rest in God through Jesus and we can be rescued from the debt requirement of our sins. --- Thank You, God!

We must understand, though, that this is not automatic. Jesus paid the debt which we owed. It is a free gift from God and Jesus. But we must receive the gift in order to activate it in our individual lives. It’s like someone reaches out to hand you a gift—but if you don’t believe it and receive it, you don’t get the gift. 

Imagine that Father God wants to give you a brand-new sports car. There sits the car—in your favorite color. God has the key in His hand and reaches it toward you. If you don’t reach out and take the key, the car does you no good—even though it has been provided for you. Instead you turn and walk away and say, “I don’t believe that key is for the car.” You have turned down the car your Father already had prepared for you and thus you never get to have and enjoy it.

But conversely, let’s say you look at God and see that He’s handing you the key. You believe Him, that that key is for the shiny new sports car. With joy and gratitude, you take the key and drive away in your wonderful new car.

Jesus is the key. The car is eternal life. 

If you have never believed in and received Jesus into your heart, I hope you will do that right this minute. Our Heavenly Father is reaching out with the key, His Son, Jesus. 

You can simply pray this prayer, (no matter where you are and you can do it silently if you need to): Father, I believe that Jesus really is who the Bible says He is and that He is the key to my salvation. I receive Him into my heart right now. Thank you, Father, for loving me so much. Thank You, God, for Jesus.

 

If you have just prayed that prayer, may God richly bless you and lead you to others who sincerely follow Jesus and to a good Bible teaching church. Get a Bible and start by reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, starting with John). Learn about Jesus. Pray to God every day. You can tell Him anything. Listen for Him to respond.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

God knows, y'all!

God Knows, Y’all!

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 [He also knows what you want.]

Last week while chatting with friends, I began lamenting over the weather forecast for the upcoming Saturday− 85% chance of rain in the town where I was planning to sell my books at an outdoor arts festival.  I had already paid the nonrefundable fee of $50 and dreaded the thought of setting up in the rain for a show that would likely have only a handful of browsers and shopper.

When I realized I was sounding like a negative grumbler it occurred to me that God is in charge of the weather. And besides, He’s the One Who called me to do what I’m doing− write and sell my books. My bemoaning was surely not honoring Him. So I came to myself, looked at my friends, threw my hands in the air, and in my naturally southern way, declared, “God knows, y’all!” They agreed and we laughed together.

The next day while thinking about the fact that God truly knows, my thoughts turned to an experience I had had several months earlier where He clearly showed me that truth. It happened at my 40-something high school class reunion. I’m still blown away by what happened that night.

An old classmate came over and sat down with my husband and me and said he wanted to tell me something. I eagerly listened as he began describing an old photograph he had bought in an antique store a few years back and he thought I would like to have it.

As he continued on, I knew the exact photo he was talking about and it was all I could do to hold back tears. In fact a few began to leak no matter how hard I tried.

The picture was of my brother, Tommy, as a sophomore, sitting in the locker room before a baseball game. It had been taken by a yearbook staffer and held a major spot in the yearbook that year (1966) as the sports section intro page.

Very puzzled, I asked my former classmate how in the world he came to find it in an antique store and where. A few years earlier I had been told that it was in a box in storage and would be given to me when the box was emptied.

This photo had been given to Charles Fretwell, a highly respected man in our city, who wrote a monthly column for our local newspaper. When my brother, Tommy, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 19, Charles visited him and my parents and asked if he could write about Tommy and our family’s experience. His column for that edition was titled, “Tommy Edwards Puts on the Badge of Courage.”

Then after my brother lost his battle with cancer, at age 22, Charles wrote about Tommy again, commending his quiet courage and faith in God. Charles obviously thought highly of my brother and admired his “quiet courage” as he expressed it.

A few years later, my husband and I were visiting Charles in his office and I noticed, hanging on the wall, the picture of Tommy-- nicely framed, and with a caption, “Tommy - Quiet Courage.” I recognized it immediately as the one from the yearbook.

I said, “Wow Charles, you have the picture of Tommy!”

He commented about how he was so pleased to have it and we reminisced a little about days gone by.

Several years later Charles and his wife both passed away and I was sent word from one of their daughters that when they came across the photo of Tommy, which had gotten packed away, they’d send it to me.

Then a few years later, at this reunion, you can imagine my surprise when I was told it was found in an antique store. My classmate didn’t remember the city or even the state where he’d discovered it. But, God knew.

I said to him, “God had His eye on that photo for me and kept it safe all these years! It’s just incredible!”

He agreed and said how pleased he was to give it to me and wouldn’t even let me reimburse him for the price he’d paid. I’m still amazed every time I look at the photo of my dear brother. It truly encapsulates his quiet nature and unassuming personality.    

Little did we know, at the time the photo was taken, that he would one day exhibit such quiet courage as a young man struck with cancer in the prime of life. His faith in his Savior sustained him and was a witness to his college friends as well as to our community.

Some may say, “Big deal. It’s just a picture.” I would respond, “True, it’s just a picture. And I could have lived out my life never seeing it again or owning it and that would be okay. It’s not like I thought of it often or fretted over it. I did not.”

But the fact that it was basically tossed out, found, rescued, and then placed in my hands is just one more example that God knows and God cares, even about little things.

Through this experience, God reminded me that He’s literally on top of all things. At the time of his illness and death, Tommy’s favorite song was, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” as sung by Mahalia Jackson. Indeed, God’s eye is on the sparrow, and on you and me as well as every little thing that matters to you and me− such as a meaningful photo from years gone by.

Let’s be mindful always that, God knows, y’all!

Can you think of a time in your life when God showed you He knows even though it may have seemed like a small matter? (Or it might have been a bid deal.) 


Feel free to share in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my post today. I hope it encouraged you in some way.

©Copyright 2015 Connie Wohlford