God’s Plan for Humanity

It’s in the Bible: “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son…” As familiar to Christians as the morning coffee pot, those words in John 3:16 reveal God’s plan for the human race.

For God so loved the world…” It means God loves everyone; every human being who lives in this world. He loves believers and non-believers alike, but He wants the latter to repent.

In His grace, mercy, and generosity God promises a place in heaven for everyone who will repent and believe. The “No Vacancy” sign will never be posted.

Eternal life is not the only part of the “born again” process, but surely the most important.

John 3:16 goes on to say “…that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] will not perish, but will have eternal life.” It is the will of God for everyone to believe. We read in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Many Christians act as though God’s plan is only for them. It’s a big mistake: God’s plan is for everyone. Believers should not be smug, self-satisfied, merely waiting for “a wonderful time up there.” With that attitude, they are missing God’s purpose.

Self-centredness must be abandoned. People will only be in heaven if Christians tell them about it. Then they accept Jesus or reject Him. Good news has to be read or heard to be received and understood. It is why in Mark 16:15 Jesus said in effect, “Go tell.”

There is a warning too in John 3:16: “…that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So conversely, whoever does not believe will perish. There are other statements by Jesus in “John” to support that. Eternal death is a breath away, but many are unaware.

The Bible says (speaking of Judgment Day) in Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3 in the Old Testament contain sobering words. God told Ezekiel (the watchman) to deliver the message: “…tell them ‘Thus says the Lord God’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.” (3:11)

In verse 18 we read if the watchman does not give warning and the man dies in his sin God says to the watchman: “his blood I will require at your hand.”

If the watchman does give the warning, it isn’t heeded - and a man dies in his sin, God says to the watchman “you have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 3:19)

Those are scriptures not just to skim over, but to ponder.

Jesus saves those who believe, but first they must know what to believe. It is why He instructed Christians to be public messengers. Now they have the Bible as their guidebook.

Oh that every pastor, minister and individual believer would see the urgency, and make it a priority to take the gospel outside the church. Not to do so is a hindrance to God’s plan. It is also disobedience.

[Footnote: You may be thinking, does this writer do what he is urging other Christians to do? The answer is yes, by the grace of God]