God’s Plan:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have an everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The above verse deserves to be decorated with jewels as it is one of the diamond verse in the Bible, which contains more than 31,000 verses. Whosoever believes in God’s only one son (Jesus Christ); every human being, male or female, white or black, rich or poor, master or slave, literate or illiterate; will not be perish but be saved for an eternal life. This is God’s eternal plan and desire for the lost humanity. In order to fulfill this plan He in His great love gave His begotten son as a sin offering for us. The next question that pops up in our mind, what made God love human beings so much? Yes, my friend, there is a reason for this, there is a reason!
In the beginning it was the most powerful Almighty God who decorated the formless and void earth into a beautiful world with greenery and with various kinds of living creatures; animals, birds, beasts, insects and fishes; by His word. Then as the crown of His creations, He created man with His OWN hands and in His OWN image and He breathed His OWN life into his nostrils and gave him the authority to reign over the whole earth. Gracious and loving God used to spent time with man and sought fellowship with man in every evening. It is significant to note that it was not man, but God came to man and sought the fellowship with him.
But the disobedience(sin) of man took him away from his sweet fellowship with God and compelled him to hide. This gap led man to do sin continuously and to commit dangerous crimes in its increased and various forms. God’s heart was grieved over the pathetic state of the creation that He had made in his own image (man). In His everlasting love He decided to restore man with His fellowship. This is why God sent His begotten son to the world to restore our friendship with God. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved”(John 3:17). Wow! How comforting is this wonderful care and concern of God. (We hear about many deities who came to destroy the wicked(sinners) and to deliver the righteous. But here is a loving and caring God, who came to seek and save the sinners/wicked). How beautiful is the divine provision for the salvation of man!
From the pre-historic time, man, who fled from the presence of God, tried to make for himself many deities/images especially related to natural powers because he was afraid of nature’s devastating scenes. In history we even read about an “unknown god” whom people worshipped in some places (Acts 17:23). The tradition of worshiping practice of human now gradually snatched by to ‘man-made idols‘ and to today’s ‘self proclaimed human gods’. Bible foretold that: “Although they (men) claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23).
The word of God clearly teaches: “all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For as through the disobedience of one man(Adam) many (whole humanity) turned sinners...”(Romans 5: 19). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6: 23). It is true that medicines are of no use after death. But there is a medicine for death. That medicine is none but LIFE!
All human are born through sin and they live for a short while and then die. How can this sinful man become a ‘God’? Can a “sinful god” provide Salvation for another sinful man? Can a blind guide another blind? Can a sense–less idol made of mud, stone, steel, gold etc by ‘sinful hands’ of a ‘sinful man’ provide salvation to a man who is born in sin? The religious scholars of all times and in all places declare in one accord, “who can forgive sins, but God alone”(Mark 2:7).
How must be a God be?
Friends, what are the powers/attributes and qualities of a powerful God? How should he/she be? God must be omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy (sinless) and eternal. God’s omnipotence is revealed in his powerful work of creation. He created the whole universe by the power of His word(Genesis 1). Scientists are still trying hard to unveil the mystery of His creation. Countless books written on this topic but still no satisfactory explanation received to the questions related to creation.
God is omniscient. He who knows all the languages of the world. He knows Hindi, English, Mongolian, Bengali, French, African, Marathi etc. How many languages do the so called man made ‘human gods’ of India knows? How can a person claim to be a God unless he possesses knowledge about everything? Man cannot be God if He is not omnipresent. God can hear the prayer of a person praying in Delhi and can answer his prayer by doing miracles at Denmark.
Only an omnipresent God can answer the prayer of a person praying in Canada and answer him at Calcutta.
God said “Be Holy because, I the Lord your God is Holy”(Leviticus 19:2). God is eternal – One who will never die. He is a God from the everlasting to everlasting (Psalms 90: 1). “I am the First and I am the Last” (Isiah 44:1). Jesus Christ was not born through human but was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. To save the mankind, He came in the form of a man, Jesus Christ had to bear death.
History is a witness to His death on the cross, His burial and the resurrection of Jesus on the third day (Matthew 28:7; Mark 24:5–6; John 20:9). Scripture says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He declared: “I am the alpha and omega, first and the last, beginning and the end” (Revelation 2:13). These are the qualities that is mandatory in a God.
Among today’s self declared ‘man made human gods’, how many of them rose from the dead? How many can? How can a person, who is not sure about his eternal existence can claim to be a God or a savior? How can he/she give salvation to a another human after death when he/she is unaware of his/her own salvation? When these ‘human gods’ are completely drowned in drugs, lust and other anti-social and inhuman activities, how can they save others? Stealing, cheating, deceiving, murder, fights etc were/are the parts of their daily life, how can they proclaim themselves as gods? The biography of every ‘individual god’s’ must be read before worshipping /following them. Friends, I would like you to be saved from this dangerous web in which you are unknowingly entangled.
How can statues made by sinful man carved out of clay, mud, steel, gold, stone, wood etc turn into a God? When these immovable images cannot be omnipresent, then how can they be God? How can these heartless objects understand the anguishes of the human hearts? How can these idols with deaf ears hear the cry of the broken hearted man? How can their eyes made up of clay, see the tears of suffering humanity? These idols, designed by humans do not understand the definition of Love, how can they feel the love of someone? Endless questions are still to be answered......
Jesus Christ, is the Savior
Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8). This loving God sent His sinless son into this world in order to save the sinful man; the crown of His creation created with his own hand; and to restore him with His love. Whosoever believes in Him, will not be granted a simple life but an eternal life (John 3: 16).
The birth of Jesus Christ has been foretold many times in Scriptures. His birth occurred in the same way as fore told by Isaiah, the Jewish prophet, who lived 750 years before Him. It goes like this: ‘The virgin will be with the child and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel - God is with us (Isiah 7: 14). There were many names other than Immanuel which were assigned to Him before His birth (Isiah 9:6; Luke 1:31). One among these names is Jesus. The meaning behind this name is Savior (Matthew 1:21) of mankind.
At the time of his birth an Angel of the Lord declared: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people”(Luke 2:10). This declaration clearly states that this good news is for all people in the earth. In this declaration it is not mentioned for a special group or cast or religion or color or a country. This good news is for all! Rich, poor, masters, slaves, for Indians, for Italians that Christ is born for all. For every race, colour, cast, creed, religion etc. The Almighty God took the form of a man and was born in a manger. For what? To save everyone, even the one who is born in a hut must not be away from the love of God?
As foretold by prophets Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30. By seeing Him, a prophet named, John the Baptist said: “Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world“ (John 1: 29). As recorded centuries ago, He began His ministry with many signs and wonders like giving sight to the blind eyes, setting free the captives, releasing those seated in darkness” (Isiah 42:6). The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) gives in detail of all the miracles done by Jesus and about His ministry. The sick, demon possessed, the needy whosoever came to Jesus, went back with much joy as their needs were met miraculously by the power of God. Bondages were loosed, hungry were fed and sent back fully satisfied by Him.
Jesus wept with those who were weeping. He consoled the people who were suffering. He said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). And again He promised: “I will not leave you orphans” (John 14:18). Jesus was concerned about the well –being, and prosperity of the mankind. This is why Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). Though people earn money, earn healthy living still lack peace, this is because of his disobedience (sin) and only Jesus can save man from his sinful nature. The love of Jesus is infinite. While the so called ‘human god’ of today seeks fulfillment by asking their followers to kiss their feet, but Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and showed the difference. This is the love of Jesus.
During the time of His birth heavenly host sang together with the angels “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14). What happened to the peace of the humans today? Angels sang: “on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests”. Peace is promised here only for those who are favored by the Lord. Those who seek the “favor of men” cannot have this peace. The angels not sang like this. Where are the people today? Today people are trying day and night to please the so called ‘ sinful self declared gods’ or ‘man made gods’ and are wasting their hard earned money and efforts behind them. After all, they are definitely losing their peace and sleepings. The activities of these self declared gods are so shameful. Dear friend, is your joy and peace at stake? On whom should we put our trust? May the Lord help you to take the right decision.
Dear friend, as mentioned earlier God wants you to have enduring joy, peace and prosperity. This is why God made it sure that everything is in place even before He created man so that he lacks nothing. Have a look at today’s world, Where is peace? Everywhere we see riots, conflicts, dirty politics, racial discrimination, terrorism, bomb explosions, increasing divorce cases, atrocities against women, exploitation against children, increasing suicides, patricide, matricide, murders, adultery, rape, gay marriages, extremism, underworld dons who threatens the law and order, drug abuse, AIDS, cancer, famine, problems caused by natural calamities etc. There is no peace anywhere in the world and only to hear increased violence day by day.
Widespread immorality is a great concern of the whole world today. The first family of the world who were covered with glory of God, lost their glory due to sin. When they lost their glory, God had clothed them with animal skin (Genesis 3:21). But against likeness of God today’s man is enjoying and even selling the nakedness and making money. Today’s television programs, internet, cinemas, music albums, videos are now being extensively used for these perversions. As a result people are being increasingly exposed and led to immorality. The international leaders who are supposed to be the guardians of nations are shamelessly indulging in all kinds of sexual perversions to grab the headlines in the media. Devil has made all these activities, the norm for the day. By seeing all these things someone may affirm the evolution theory of Darwin to be true.
The root of all these things is the sinful nature of man. This sinful nature led man to unrighteousness, and finally to violence spreading rapidly as fire in the forest. ‘All unrighteousness is sin’ (1 John 5: 17) is the outright declaration of the Bible. It again declares: ‘Sin is lawlessness’. ‘All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). Bible teaches that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23). The death referred here is spiritual death. Even though physical death is also a consequence of sin. The only medicine for death is life. There is no point in treating a person after his death. The anti-dote of death is life. Jesus said: “I am the way, truth and the life” (John 14:6). Everlasting life is promised for those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). People who live in sins cannot attain salvation or heaven and their share will be in the Lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). But those who believe in Christ Jesus will live with Him forever.
“Man is made from the dust, after his death; the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The physical body of a man, unless it is transformed, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. In its natural state it will return back to dust. As believed by many, the spirit of man does not take a rebirth into another living being according to the deeds of his previous birth. The truth is this: “spirit has to return to God who gave it”. In conclusion, those who like to attain an eternal life or salvation should believe in the Jesus, Son of God! The only antidote for death is life i.e., Jesus Christ!
Sacrificing animals for the remission of sins was an ancient practice. It is still being practiced in many communities and in various places in India. How can the blood of these animals be a suitable substitute for man’s sin? A human does most of the sins through his mouth by cursing, telling lies and abusing others through slang languages etc. Though humans are very wise and plans evils through his own wise brain. How can sins of human being forgiven by shedding the blood of an animal who doesn
