February 9 | Genesis 3:15

Dave Mann
6 days ago
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

The One and Only Plan

By Dave Mann

There is a curiously inaccurate theology floating around that goes something like this. God tried to create a successful project with Adam and Eve, but oops, no, it didn’t work. He tried with Noah, but oops, no, that didn’t work. He tried with Moses and the Law, but oops, no, that didn’t work either. So, he tried Jesus on the cross, and finally, he found something that worked.

Actually, God’s plan of the Cross has been the one and only plan of salvation from the start, even from before creation. There have been numerous ways that God has pointed to the Cross from the beginning and throughout the Old Testament.

When God cursed the serpent in the Garden, he alluded to the Cross. You (the serpent) will bruise the heel of the Seed of the woman (Christ) in the pain of the Cross, but He (Christ) will crush your head in a glorious victory. The redemptive plan of God was revealed in the first narrative of Holy Scripture. And that plan shows God’s incredible love that he would pay the price for our sin and show us the way to salvation by grace through faith.

Abram believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness – Genesis 15:6.

A few chapters later, God demonstrated that substitutionary atonement was a critical part of the plan – the ram substituted for Isaac – Genesis 22.

When the people of Israel were oppressed in Egypt, God showed that the blood of a firstborn lamb would serve as a sign that the angel of death would Passover those who were covered by the blood – Exodus 12-13.

Isaiah prophesied that the Lord’s servant would take our pain and suffering upon himself – Isaiah 53.

Even one of the “minor” prophets stated clearly how the just shall live by faith – Habakkuk 2:4. At numerous points, writers of the New Testament added their affirmation to what the prophet wrote – Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:12-13, and Hebrews 10:38.

The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross is not Plan B, C, or D. It has always been God’s Plan A– the only plan. It is the character of God to reveal his love for humanity, even when we are sinners. The Cross has always been the plan, even from before the creation. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Ephesians 1:4-5).

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your wonderful and effective plan of salvation. I will be eternally grateful for the gift of faith to believe in what you have planned for me to spend eternity with you because of what Christ suffered on the Cross, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.