God’s Plan Revealed

 

What was God up to?  The heavenly hosts had gathered in the throne room. The elders were there, the archangels, Adam and Eve, the patriarchs – Abraham, the “friend of God”, Isaac and Jacob who had wrestled with the angel. Moses, the great leader of Israel, and his brother, Aaron. Nimrod the great hunter. The kings were there – David, Israel’s, greatest king and combat strategist. Solomon, the wisest King. Hezekiah, the reformer. Joash, the youngest. We can’t forget Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Jonah. There were the all prophets gathered wondering what God had in mind but they had an idea that it had to do with the message they had delivered so many ages ago.

There were the women, too. Sarah. Hagar. Leah and Rachel. Rahab and Bathsheba. Ruth. Hosea’s wife, Gomer who had been redeemed.

No one was left out. None had earned the right to be there. No one was good enough. But they had believed God by faith and He “counted it for righteousness.” They were whispering among themselves. What could be going on? Why had they been summoned?

God rose from the throne, Jesus beside Him and the Holy Spirit hovering over all. God’s voice echoed down the hallways of heaven and the corridors of time declaring that time had been fulfilled and His plan for redeeming His people was about to commence. There was great excitement.  What would this mean? They held their breath. Would they go to battle? What was the plan?

God revealed that Jesus was going to invade time and space as a human. Not just a human, but a baby born of a woman. Isaiah nodded knowingly. In a town called Bethlehem. Micah smiled. Sending Jesus to earth to be born and live as a human, die a terrible death by crucifixion was God’s plan of redemption of mankind.

The crowd gasped. “No! Not Jesus! Mankind is not worth that. We are just a bunch of rebellious, willful, sinful, miserable creatures. He is Your only Son. Your beloved Son.  He is the darling of all of heaven.” There had to be another way. How can the infinite be contained and limited by the finite? How can God become man? What was God thinking!

Then they all stopped as they realized what they were saying. It grew quiet. They, too, had once been rebellious, willful, sinful, miserable creatures themselves. Lost and unworthy. But God had loved them enough to include them. They were not here on their own merit. It was only His great grace and forgiveness that placed them there.

The heavenly throng looked toward the throne. There was a tear trickling down God’s face. This plan was going to break His heart. His holiness and righteousness had to be satisfied.  And the only way was for Him to pay the price Himself. The crowd stood in awe as they saw God’s heart revealed and recognized the great love God had for mankind.  “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son…” (John 3:16)

That’s what Christmas is about.

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