The story of God’s plan begins thousand of years ago when a rescuer arrived in the form of an unassuming tiny person, born in the manger we’re all familiar with (google Christmas / Mary & Joseph).  For this plan to work to the extent it must, let’s go back even further (google Adam & Eve).  They were created with perfection in mind and quickly messed that up by falling prey to the tempter, thus sin entered the world.  Because God the Father so desperately wanted a relationship with us and unfortunately our new found sin made us dead to Him, the rescue plan ensued (not plan B mind you, just a plan we should be grateful for).  This rescue plan took generations to build up to and was miraculously accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – God the Father’s own Son.  So, how does this happen you ask?  Good question.

It all hinges on the truth that because of our sin, we are unable to have a relationship with a perfect, almighty God.  The only way around this awful realization is for someone to represent humanity before God – the catch is the someone would have to be perfect … not like the all-American guy with the smile that chimes or the proverbial “girl next door” that your mom loved.  I mean real sinless perfection … someone who was free of any guilt or trespasses.  Enter Jesus Christ who arrived a baby, lived a life free from sin, and then in a unjust yet necessary gesture shed his blood on the cross for us.  And that did it!!  No bunnies to be seen anywhere.  Only a perfect man on the cross for all to see – Christ’s life had ended!

Now if the story ended here the rescue would not have been complete.  If Christ had stayed in the tomb, sin would’ve won and perfection would’ve lost.  However … Christ didn’t lose: He is risen. Therefore we can be victorious with Him.  Christ overcame what would be sure death for you or me and in that moment enabled those before and after Him to enjoy the opportunity for eternity in Heaven … the home of the Almighty God.  All this because He loves us so much!!

HAPPY EASTER!!

if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.

Remove this cup from me.

Yet not what I will, but what you will

Mark 14:35-36

Jesus the son, in all his humanity, made a decision in this moment, to submit to the will of God the Father.  Christ had been sent to earth not to condemn the world but to save the world … yet still … and without sin … his flesh screaming is there another way and his spirit yearning to glorify his Father … Jesus Christ surrendered his flesh to his spirit and yielded to will of his Father.

In much the same way we, as followers of Christ's example, are called to shelve what the flesh thinks is good and to allow God to download his perfect goodness into our souls libraries so that we can know his will.  His good and perfect will.

Quick question for you!!  What's your tag??  When you think about what defines your identity what is the first thing that comes to the forefront??  Kind of hard I've found to give one tag the pole position when so many can hold us in place for a time.  And even then, realistically we find that we have to become a circus preformer, juggling multiple tags simultaneously, feeling a sense of guilt that we can't give each role its due. What are the roles that you find yourself in when being blown around the whirlwind of your days??

Here are a few that pop into mind for me.  Husband, dad, son, brother, son-in-law, friend, Bulldawg, business guy, sports guy, board member, light bulb changer, trash guy … oh and lest I forget CHRISTian!!!

Just like the tag American tells all that we are from America the tag Christian tells all that we are from Christ.  Folks, tags are part of who we are and many times the more tags we achieve in our lives the better.  I say many times because the inverse also holds true … many time the more tags we achieve in our lives the worse off we can be.  It all rests on how we are able to stack these tags.  Which ones hold us more tightly than others?  Are you a soccer mom just for the social stuff, or are you a soccer mom to increase your sphere of influence to tell other about the one you worship … Jesus??  Are you a business guy because it makes you feel respected and fulfilled, or are you a business guy because your one desire is to spread the truth of Christ to others in your sphere??  Big questions that deserve a big answer.

To wrap I'll offer up this.  Stack your tags under the eternal tag of Jesus Christ, and then all others become eternal.  Stack your tags under any other than Jesus, and they all then become temporal!!  Eternal is better!!

Your works are Wonderful, I know that full well

My frame was not hidden from You when I was made

In the Secret Place

When I was woven together in the depths of the Earth

Your Eyes saw unformed body;

All the days ordained for me were written in your Book

Before one of them came to be!

Psalms 139:14-16

These are the words of King David as he seeks out deeper understand of life's sanctity through the eyes of God.  A life that God set in place before time as we know it began.  A life that in some manner has always existed in our Father's omnipotent plan. 

Ok … insert your name here!!  David was simply a man, making his best effort, as half-hearted as it may seem at times, to live a life glorifying to Almighty God.  He was simply a sinful human; much as we are!  Therefore, no less deserving of Hell than we are and no more deserving of the perfect grace that unbinds the shackles of sin and frees us to enjoy a life eternal, full of the hope we can know in Christ Jesus.  All that to set up the notion that just as David realized, we are also made with the same fear and wonder described in the Psalms referenced earlier which sets us up to better understand the sanctity of life.  A life created by God a long time ago.

Seems that modern culture has devalued human life … the process has been gradual (think frog in hot water) yet dramatically damaging!  I don't really want to dive below the level where air tubes are neccessary but the most obvious debate centers around abortion.  It's quite evident in God's word when life begins.  Who are we to question a plan that was woven and ordained by a perfect being in a time and place that is beyond our comprehension?  Another culprit comes out of the world of gaming … not that gaming itself is inherently bad … however some lead our culture to places where death and destruction, crime and punishment are controlled by the user … the user who's average age is 36 and who spends countless hours per day in this "world in a box".   What's seen and heard is so real now days that what's experienced becomes difficult to separate from reality … it numbs our culture to those engagements that some of these games offer, therefore lessening the value that life should receive! 

God sees it differently and so should we.  He thinks so much of our lives that he had Jesus come to this Earth to rescue us from our sin.  Did he have to do this?  Not at all!  But he holds us in such high esteem, as his children, that he wanted to!  The sanctity that we have for life should reflect that of the sanctity that God holds for human life.  We are made in his image … by him … to glorify him!  Sounds like we're pretty important to Father God … because we are!!  That's the truth!!

PROVIDENCE: THE OMNISCIENT LOVE, CARE AND GUIDANCE FROM THE CREATOR TOWARD THE CREATED

Think of a master gardener. The way that they care for and nurture the soil in order that it will be ideal to perform growth when seeded.  Levels are taken and amendments are added until it's ready for action.  At that point the seeds are sewn, the shoots are pared, and then with the proper water, sun and nutrients, it begins to form in to the grand piece of artwork that the artist envisioned from the master palette.

What's outstanding is that God is our master gardener … he's our hand of providence.  Check out his word and what is made evident is this … he both deeply cares for and faithfully nurtures his people.  Matthew talked about the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air … how they are anxious for nothing … God takes of them.  How much more will God take care of us … his Sons and Daughters, than the birds and the flowers (not made in his image … by the way). If God's Hand is on this of the air and things of the ground then you can take comfort in knowing that God's Hands are wrapped around us, his children, in a way that is all encompassing and everlasting.  He guides our paths in the same way that he guided the paths of the Isrealites in the Old Testament … the same way he placed Judas in Christ's life to play the role of turncoat.  When understood from the eyes of a God who is literally a "know it all", all things make sense.  We exist in the midst of this great rescue plan to glorify God, so that when the rescuer returns to gather us all up, the Hand of Providence will be complete (at least for Chapter Earth).

So … let's just leave it at this for the sake of understanding.  God doesn't just "show up" … he never left!! 

I will leave it with this.  The Bible states that "none is good, no not one", when held to the high standard of Christ's perfection.  It is only in understanding the full goodness of the Father through Christ the Son that we can realize goodness that is pure, goodness that is guiltless and goodness that is for eternity.  In Christ we have access to the only true goodness and that goodness will set us free!

The word defines Father God as the author of life and the creator of all things.  At the end of each day during creation God admired his handiwork and called it good (see Genesis 1).  This was not the good that we throw around when we might be defining dinner at a local dive or the good that we use when describing how our day might (or might not have) been.  This good brings with it the full seal and approval of a deity with the most high standards.  When God approved his creation and called it good, you better believe that it was most excellent in all its completeness.  There is no better.

Let's also check out the very commonly referred to verse "All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).  Ok … just turn on the television for 30 seconds and it's hard to make ends meet when referencing this verse. Much of what we see isn't a pretty sight and most definitely not glorifying to a God who demands purity from his people – all sinners by the way.  So how is this rectified?  We know that God has no dealings with sin and that's kind of us in a nutshell.  Something here's got to give in order for his word to jive … in order for his goodness to be achieved.  Based upon the aforementioned verse from Romans how can we (his creation) even come to a point where we can understand and receive the goodness of a perfect God??

God's goodness became complete through his love for us – through the life and death of Christ.  Check back soon and we'll dig into trying to understand God's goodness when seen through the lens & filter of his son Jesus. My hope would be that you would see why we have reason to celebrate the good times … even when they may not seem so good.

Anyone that hails from the great metroplex called Atlanta (or Athens for that matter) is undoubtedly quite familiar with a little place right off the 85-75 connector called the Varsity … home of the PC, FO and their world famous Varsity chili dogs! This Atlanta landmark has become a destination point for tourists stopping by or passing through … it's a necessary part of the Georgia Tech football season … and after a late night with the Braves an 11:00 pit stop by the Varsity is not uncommon.  The Varsity has touched everyone in some manner and left an permanent imprint … I would say mostly good … a few not so much (especially a few hours after dining … if you know what I mean!).  It's a part of the Atlanta culture where not everyone knows your name necessarily but where you feel welcomed in a confusing kinda way … the kinda way that says I really care about what you want and hurry up and order your food before I spit you out of this place … the kinda way that says Whataya Have, Whataya Have, Whataya Have!!!

Sorry to do this buuuuut the flip side of this is that what goes into your body is heinous.  We all know it and we all throw it down the gullet … it's so good going down isn't it??  Thing is, it's similar to running our car with sludged up oil and low grade dirty gas.  It might run but it won't run at its highest capacity.  Same with us in our spritual walk.  We have got to fill our soul with all good things … the Bible requires us to think on things that are pure and good … to discipline our bodies and to run to win the ultimate prize of endless glory with our heavenly father.  So when our Heavenly Father asks us Whataya Have … just think on it and say … I'd like a double grace with sanctification and glory on the side please!!!

That said, I think the Varsity's awesome!!!

Check out this video spot by Louis Giglio which touches on life prioritization from a Christian perspective.  Let Christ be the voice that provides the meat of assimilation in your life … let Christian be the role that you assume first and formost.