by Jerry Senn
When our Almighty God wants to get something done we might think nothing could stop him. Doesn’t He have all the power? Isn’t He able to do anything He wishes? Of course, the answer is “yes.”
He wanted to create a universe and He did!
He wanted to make a man in His own image and He did!
He wanted to bless man with a paradise on earth and eternal life.
But God gave man a choice and this created a situation where man could stand in God’s way of doing what He wanted. When man chose to sin against God, He made it impossible for God to do what He wanted to do. Man stood in God’s way! God provided the means, man must make God’s agenda his own.
God wants every human being to be in a saved, intimate, joyous relationship with Him. The thing which stands in God’s way is man choosing to violate God’s laws.
He sent his own Son as the sacrifice for our sins. This made redemption possible for sinful humans who repent, receive and trust that sacrificial love from God.
All who come to Him in faith are saved from sin and are what is called “the church.” God has plans for the saved to spread the good news to the world. He wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of this truth.
What plans does God have to get the good news to the lost? Jesus is in heaven. He doesn’t speak directly to man in a supernatural way. The church is His only plan. Therefore, the church has a choice to make. We can either obey and live in harmony with God’s plan or we can stand in His way.
This may seem too simplistic, but I challenge each believer in Christ to ask ourselves, are we (“am I”) standing in God’s way? He has no other plan for the lost to be saved except through our sharing of his love with others.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His message is not up for grabs. We must honor God’s will with enthusiasm and genuine love.
“Father, help us never to allow our unwillingness to change to cause us to stand in your way!”