The Cross and The Sabbath. Pt. 1

The Cross and the Sabbath.

Tit_1:2  In hope of eternal life, (((The Cross)))) which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began

2Ti_1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace(((The Cross)))), which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

1Co_2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery(((The Cross)))), even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain(((The Cross)))) from the foundation of the world. 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ(((The Cross)))), as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (((The Cross))))

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel(((The Cross)))). 

Obviously (((The Cross)))) are words supplied by me in the verses above. Yet note them carefully.  Before the WORLD BEGAN there was a SALVATION plan in place. I know I've talked about this before and I may talk about it a thousand more times. We sin corrupted humans with our self-involved dominant brains can comprehend the idea of formulating plans before undertaken any huge, gigantic, enormous, colossal, stupendous….(you get the idea) task. We can't comprehend anyone building a huge skyscraper without plans. Would we expect an ocean liner to be built plan-less How about our automobiles, air planes, trains, would we desire to have anything to do with those sans great planning so that even minor details are worked out so that these things are able to function to the utmost perfect possible? Our lives hang in the balance for most of those things, right? Everyone knows how not following plans can lead to disasters. Leaving out a few spare parts on a chair, or shelf, or something simple may not result in too much harm, but leaving out some spare parts for an air plane and the next thing you know…boom and crash! Who am I kidding, you really can get hurt quite severely from a chair falling apart underneath you and a shelf falling on your head.  The idea here is that planning is necessary, and those who do not rely on planning anything at all is an instant liar.  The moment they feel hunger there is a plan to feed that hunger if at all possible. When thirst causes their throats to dry, their mouths to seek a bit too hard for some saliva, they sure plan to find something to drink. A nudge down in the bladder has us planning a bathroom visit. Those are NOT long drawn out plans by no means but the thought comes into play initiating the action to plan on taken as a result. Plans, it's all about plans. So why would any of us planners find it so hard to believe that our Creator planned our existence and in doing so planned for deviations from the desired planned outcome? People make contingency plans all the time right along with their initial plan. IF this happens then….   If…then…  familiar enough words to us.

The plan of salvation (the Cross) was in place before the world was created. Why? Because on our own level of human existence we are allowed to fathom that if we undertake something as miraculous as life giving, we aren't simply going to destroy that life if down the road a ways that life turns out to be unlike anything we hoped or wanted it to be.  (NO ABORTION TALK IN THIS METAPHOR- that's a whole other thing)  I'm talking about those who PLAN to have a family and do so. Their children are born and raised and let's say a long about teenage years we begin to suspect our children are not turning out like we hoped, like we planned. We want them to be potential adults able to function in the world around them successfully so that they are content, productive, and able to continue on the species in their own eventual family way.  So if we watch our children show nothing of interest at all in being functioning in the world on their own, we begin to suspect our plan for their existence has gone awry.  Are we then to wipe them out of existence and try again maybe? NO! A thousand, million times NO! Most parents allow for a lot of disappointment in their children while continuing to love them deeply.  So, why, TELL ME WHY, do we even hint at expecting something different from our Creator?

We ARE HIS CHILDREN!  He created us, hoping for the best possible outcome, all the while planning for the worst possible outcome- His LOVE would demand NO LESS than that. Obviously then we shouldn't be too shocked to realize that our Salvation was planned for- even before we were created.

I can sit back and just imagine a financially well off parent setting aside some special trust fund for their child, even as they cut that child off at some point wanting them to make it on their own. If ultimately they aren't able to make it on their own, that parent would want the peace of mind for their child that at least they wouldn't end up hurting from their inability to make it by themselves. And sure, there are a lot of flaws in that plan many would kindly point out to me, but that's our stained humanity- flaw filled.

So, onto the next topic that will eventually join the above topic- The Cross.