Do You Want to be a Part of God’s Plan? by Bryan Craig

“But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you  to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  Acts 26:16-18 ESV

The passage above is Paul’s account of the moment when Jesus came to him in a bright light and spoke to him about a new purpose in life.  First of all, Jesus had already been crucified and risen from the dead and ascended.  So, this was a great example of Jesus’ Spirit at work in calling this Pharisee named Saul to a new life of ministry.  The Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who lives in us and desires to move through us.  Are we paying attention to the words He is speaking to us, or does He need to blind us with His Light, as He did Saul?

God has a master plan for this life, and we are a part of it.

Let me try to unpack this for you.  In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, man and woman had a perfect, abiding relationship with the Father.  There was no sin nor hindrances to their relationship with God or with each other.  When evil and deceit entered this perfect place, fellowship was broken and purity and holiness was lost.  Sin was due its punishment and Adam and Eve were driven from the garden, with seemingly no way back.  

From that point, God grieved the sinful nature of His creation.  He even allowed the flood during the days of Noah to punish sin.  But His love for His people remained as He provided a rescue plan for Noah and his family.  Fast forward to Moses.  He was a Hebrew but was raised with Gentiles.  God came to Moses, and He let Him know He was not unaware of His people’s suffering: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”  Exodus 3:7-8a

Then, God delivered the people, and He gave them the Law, the blueprint for holiness.  And He gave them provision for their sin when it occurred, a pathway to forgiveness, which involved burnt offerings, a death sacrifice for sin.  This system endured for many years, but as we read the historical account of God’s people, we see that there was still a bondage to sin and a continual backsliding.  Something (or someone) was still missing.

Elijah the prophet, like Moses, demonstrated the power of God with miracles and amazing feats.  When he was on a mountain, right after defeating the prophets of Baal in a showdown of their gods vs. The God, Elijah experienced an earthquake, a mighty wind, a fire, all fearful and powerful, but we read that God called out to Elijah in a gentle whisper.  (See 1 Kings 19:9-18) Just like with Moses, there was this close, intimate relationship with God.

Other prophets, men and women, had an abiding relationship with God, but at that time, throughout the Old Testament, it seemed reserved for a few.  

But…“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 ESV

Jesus, God incarnate, came to save all people, not just a few.  He came to fulfill the Law (see Matthew 5:17), to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins (see 1 John 2:2), to give us power and authority (see Luke 10:19) and to allow us all back into that intimate, abiding relationship with God (see John 15:1-11).

There’s a powerful story when Jesus took Peter, James and John, three of His closest disciples, to a mountainside.  Guess who showed up, too?  Moses and Elijah.  In this one scene, Jesus was tying together the Old Testament and the New Testament and helping the disciples see that He was the pathway back to the Garden of Eden.  It was not our purity, but His purity that would allow us to come home.

In John 13-17, Jesus had His final moments with His disciples before the Crucifixion.  Heshowed them about servant leadership as He washed their feet, He talked to them about Heaven, He told them about the Holy Spirit, He commanded them to “abide” or “remain” in Him and He also prayed for them.  But He didn’t just pray for them.  He prayed for you and me too:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  John 17:20-21 ESV

Yes, Jesus was leaving.  But He was sending His Spirit to complete the work through the rest of history with men and women who would believe in Him, abide with Him and make disciples of Him.

In one final scene on the mountain, right before He ascended, Jesus reminds them of the plan.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

This was the plan from the very beginning, after fellowship with God was lost in the garden.  It was the plan for Moses, for Elijah, for Peter, James and John, and it is the plan for us.  God is calling His children back to Himself, out of the darkness and back to His light.  And just like He did with those disciples who came before us, He wants to use us to execute His plan.

I believe with all my heart that God gave Rocky inspiration and guidance to write The Journey as a way to carry out His master plan.  The Journey, like no other process I’ve experienced in my 45 years of following the Lord, helps restore the intimacy between individuals and their Lord.  I’ve had the privilege of guiding 27 Journey groups, and I’ve had a front row seat to witness thishappen over and over again, and it never gets old.  

Are you participating in God’s master plan?

Are you making disciples?

Are you sharing the good news that we get to go home to be with the Father and it’s not based on our works and righteousness?

It’s a beautiful plan, and there are so many more who don’t know it.  Let’s answer the call, just like Saul did and change the world, one Journey participant at a time.

Are you in?