Don’t Be A Could-A-Had-A

“… And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28

God has a grand purpose for His creation. As His adopted children we have the opportunity to participate in the working out of that purpose or not. But our participation is not necessary for His purpose to be accomplished. When I typed “adopted”, I thought about all of the people who have been adopted as children and later sought out their birth parents. For some it becomes their life’s mission, as if to fill a void. For us, we don’t have to search for long – before we were saved by faith and “adopted” our father was Satan. No. I am not making it up. It is not like we didn’t have a family before salvation – there are really only two groups of people in this world – those who are saved and those who are not saved. It is an eternal relationship that I am talking about. We all will spend eternity with God in Heaven or with Satan in Hell. Satan is the “god of this world” which is why he could tempt Jesus in the wilderness.

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” – Matthew 4:8-10

Satan could not give it if it was not his to give.  Otherwise it would not have been a temptation to Jesus. If someone said that if you would do something for them then they would give you your father’s car, you would  say, “It is not yours to give” and it would not be a temptation.  The great deception of Satan is that people have more than two choices – there are many ways to spend eternity with God in heaven. 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

We are faced with temptations every day. Temptations to choose poorly and embrace our old nature – missing our opportunity to participate in God’s glorious purpose. Jesus was obedient to the point of going to the Cross, from which people can find redemption by faith through the obedience of the Son – the Way and Truth and Life. It is something that none of us can fully understand but all of us have the opportunity to embrace and find adoption as sons and daughters of the Creator God. But it is not just getting your ticket to heaven punched. God will use us as His plan is played out over the generations. 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

We have the privilege of being active participants in God’s eternal plan and purposes – or not – it is our choice. To join in we must be willing to lay our natural lives and affections down – Like Jesus in the wilderness.  As Christians, our unwillingness to do that will not subvert the plans of God. What He set in motion at the beginning of time, will be accomplished – it will not be thwarted because we choose to sit on the sidelines to watch the game.  When we were assigned to the 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Aviation squadron in El Paso, Texas I remember a TV commercial for Peter Piper’s Pizza.  We loved the Jalapeno pizza! The man on the commercial would say, “Don’t’ be a Could-a-had-a. I could-a-had-a Peter Piper pizza!” And I say to you – “Don’t be a could-a-had-a. You could-a-had-a most amazing life on this planet if only you had chosen God and said “Yes Lord” when you were given the opportunity to join Him in working out His eternal plan.”

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone