December 19

Dec 19 – Today from Proverbs 19 we look at verse 21
"Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."

This proverb touches on the mystery of God and eternity. A mystery is an immutable truth that cannot be explained or fully understood. It requires an element of faith.
Man was created in and relates to the time/space continuum. Our human reasoning is bound by it. God exists in eternity. Time is contained in eternity, but eternity is not contained in time – it transcends time. Our past is called ‘history’. Our future is unknown. There is no past or future in eternity – they are terms of time. Eternity is omnipresent, and we will never fully understand it for as long as we are bound by time. In Isaiah 55:8 & 9 God said it this way, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than you ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." As the heavens transcend the earth, even so God’s ways transcend man’s ways.
Man goes busily about making his plans – taking lessons and experience from the past and plotting into an uncertain future. It’s the best he can do. Whether it be for good or for evil, he moves forward, making his impact in the world. Some influence a few, some influence nations. Six billion people, all making their plans. In spite of the magnitude of all of this individual and ambitious busyness, man will never overrule God’s purpose. His purpose transcends man’s activity.
So, what does this all mean for the believer? God created man with a free will, and we have complete freedom to exercise that will in the time/space continuum. God does not control or overrule it in time, He transcends it in eternity. When we choose to surrender our will to Him, and trust in the transcendency of His power and purpose – we benefit. We can take comfort in that whatever the circumstances, His purposes will prevail. We have authority to pray for the entrance and prevailing rule of His eternal Kingdom into the temporal circumstances of this world as He has instructed us to pray saying, "Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9, 10). We have the Blessed Hope, knowing that whatever is too great for us to bear can be given over to Him who bears all things for us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9). We have peace even in the midst of great turmoil knowing that Gods expressed purpose for time has already been settled and there is no power in heaven or earth that can alter it, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36). We are the redeemed, the children of the eternal God through Christ Jesus, and in Christ, we have already prevailed, "In Him you were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." (Ephesians 1:11)
Take heart believers. Though evil may seem overwhelming for the moment, God will work out His eternal purpose through it. "He is able to work all things to good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). Jesus came from eternity and broke into time through the incarnation, the mystery of Christmas. He will break into time once more to see time to its final end. "He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when times will have reached their fulfillment." (Ephesians 1:9, 10).
From Genesis to Revelation, God works through the plans of man to fulfill His purpose for man. Good plans, bad plans. Successful plans, failed plans. Righteous plans, evil plans. Grand plans, small plans. His wonder and power transcend them all, and in the end of time it will come out exactly as He purposed.