April
3, 2003
GOD'S
PURPOSE FOR MANKIND
"Having
made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His
good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation
of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one
all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are
on earth--in Him" (Ephesians 1:9, 10, NKJV).
It is
God's purpose that everyone in heaven and on earth be brought
into unity in Jesus (see Ephesians. 1:9, 10). And God has
given Jesus Christ to us as a Savior (John 4:42), a brother
(Matthew 12:50), and friend (see Luke 12:4; John 15:13, NKJV)
to show us the way to a life without end and without the sin,
sickness, and evil that plague this world. God and Jesus Christ
have pulled aside the veil, and have revealed to us Their
purpose, and the future that we have, if we are willing to
accept it. If we accept God's vision and values for our lives
and we accept Jesus Christ as our Brother, Redeemer and Lord,
then we are in unity with Him; and our mission is to help
others to know Him!
What
a wonderful opportunity God has shared with us, that we may
be involved with Him in helping people to come into unity
with Him and with Jesus. Making friends for Jesus is making
friends for eternity. There will be a time when sin and sickness
no longer inhibit our ability to love and minister to one
another in the fullness of God's wonderful Spirit.
Heaven
and earth will be brought into unity. "Now I saw a new
heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away... And I heard a loud voice from heaven
saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He
will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself
will be with them and be their God. 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' " (Revelation 21:1-4).
David
prayed, "God, be merciful to us and bless us, and cause
Your face to shine on us, that Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
"Let
the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise
You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You
shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations
on earth. Selah. (Psalm 67:1-4).
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