John 3:16 - for God So Loved the WorldSample

God has a Plan

When somebody starts a project, the first thing they do is to make a plan. A plan determines what will be done, by when, and by whom. It defines what actions need to be taken and who will be involved in doing those things.

God has a plan.

The fullness of God’s plan is the unfolding of Creation. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, he has planned to provide for man's salvation.

John 3:16 tells us that God is executing His plan, and Jesus is the main player.

Jesus did not come into the world randomly. His entry and appearance into the world were established in God's plan long before Jesus appeared. From the beginning, God destined Jesus to be the Savior of the world. We see in Romans 5:6-8 that Jesus came “…at the right time.” He came into the world at the appointed time set by God the Father.

Jesus did not come of His own accord, although I am sure He was quite willing. Jesus was “sent” to the world at the right time.

Sent by whom? By God the Father, as we are shown in various places. (See: John 5:33-40, John 20:21, 1 John 4:14-15).

When we read the very next verse after John 3:16, we see this:

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)

It was the Father who sent the Son. God the Father sent Jesus at the right time in accordance with His ultimate plan for the salvation of mankind. He could not send Jesus earlier, as many prophecies about the coming of the Lord had to be spoken and written down before Jesus appeared, and fulfilling these was the proof that Jesus was the prophesied Savior.

These earlier prophecies about Jesus's coming bear witness to the fact that man’s salvation was always what God had planned. Looking forward to God's promises shows us that His plan is far from completion.

Salvation still awaits those who believe in God and Jesus Christ. God’s plan is still unfolding according to His will, and nothing can alter or stop it from succeeding.

Prayer Point:

Ask the Lord for an understanding of His plan and recognize that when things seem amiss in the world or in your life, they are still under God’s control.