Indeed, this magnificent God, who is perfect in knowledge, possesses an understanding so boundless that it utterly surpasses all human comprehension. You might ponder, as questioned in Job 37:16, “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,” or the wondrous works of Him who is “perfect in knowledge”? The reality is, you do not possess such inherent wisdom or control; it is God alone who meticulously balances the clouds and orchestrates the entirety of creation with flawless precision and infinite foresight. As Psalm 147:5 unequivocally affirms, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Unlike your own limited grasp, God’s wisdom is limitless, boundless, and eternally perfect, inviting you to place your complete trust in His magnificent and unfathomable capacity.
When we speak of “infinite,” it means there’s no end to it, a boundless expanse, particularly when applied to understanding. This profound concept truly defines God’s nature, for as 1 John 3:20 reminds us, “if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” Indeed, His knowledge is not merely extensive; it is absolute omniscience, encompassing every detail of existence, every thought, every potential outcome, and every moment across all time, ensuring His comprehension is ceaseless and complete. You can find deep reassurance in knowing that the God you worship understands everything, without limits or exceptions.
Furthermore, consider the astonishing truth that God declares the end from the beginning, a testament to His unparalleled wisdom. He is the one who, from ancient times, foresees and articulates the things not yet done, confidently stating, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” This means that even before creation unfolded, God knew precisely what the ultimate destination and purpose of all things would be. He knew, with perfect clarity, what the end would be, demonstrating a masterful foresight that far transcends any human comprehension, mapping out His divine will from eternity past.
This divine foresight extends to every intricate detail, including events that might seem to us like unexpected detours or tragic surprises. For example, did you ever consider that God knew man would fall, even before He created humanity? He knew Satan would deceive the first couple. Moreover, when Lucifer was brought into existence, God was fully aware that this magnificent creature would be lifted up with pride. The idea that Lucifer’s rebellion or humanity’s sin could have caught God off guard, causing Him to throw His hands up in dismay, is simply incompatible with His infinite understanding; He knew exactly what was going to happen.
Therefore, you can rest assured that nothing you encounter in life, no challenge, no setback, and certainly no cosmic event, ever takes God by surprise. His understanding is truly infinite, and He knows all things, from the grandest celestial movements to the most intimate thoughts of your heart. This profound omniscience means that His plans are never thwarted, His purposes never abandoned, and His love never diminished by unforeseen circumstances. Instead, His foreknowledge provides an unshakeable foundation for your faith, revealing a God who is eternally sovereign, completely aware, and perfectly in control of everything, knowing the end from the very beginning.
The Sovereign Plan: All Things According to His Will
You might often find yourself looking at the world, heartbroken as if your perfect vision — a plan where man would enjoy enduring joy and companionship forever, and you would enjoy him forever — has been utterly devastated. Yet, the profound truth, though challenging to accept, is that what you perceive as a ruined plan was never a surprise to God. Far from merely allowing it, God meticulously planned for everything to unfold precisely as it has, including Lucifer’s rise in pride and the subsequent deception of humanity. Understand that nothing within God’s vast creation ever catches Him off guard or surprises Him; as Ephesians 1:11 clearly states, He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,” meaning every single event is moving along exactly according to His intricate, sovereign plan.
It might seem incredibly hard to reconcile this, perhaps you’re thinking, “Do you really mean to tell me that God allowed Lucifer to be lifted up with pride when He created him, and even allowed Adam and Eve to be deceived?” The unequivocal answer, resonating with deeper spiritual understanding, is a resounding “No, He didn’t just allow it; He planned it.” This concept often challenges conventional interpretations, as much of Christendom has struggled to explain away or reinterpret certain biblical verses that seem to contradict our preconceived notions of a purely benevolent God who is merely reactive to sin. However, a closer examination reveals that our common understanding of these scriptures might be incomplete, leading us to believe that such an outcome simply “can’t be true,” when in fact, the Bible presents a more comprehensive, albeit challenging, perspective.
To truly grasp this profound concept, consider Isaiah Chapter 45, Verse 7, where God declares, “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil; I the Lord do all these things.” This verse often sparks intense objection, with many exclaiming, “God cannot create evil! He is holy, righteous, life, light, and love; He would never be the source of evil!” Yet, the scripture explicitly states, “I the Lord,” referring to Jehovah, the sacred name from which all of God’s multifaceted attributes flow, like a perfectly cut diamond reflecting His glory in every direction. Jehovah, the supreme sovereign, affirms, “I do all these things,” including the creation of what the text refers to as “evil.” The core reason why humanity struggles to understand this truth lies in our failure to comprehend the ultimate purpose for evil’s existence within this world.
Further confirming this intricate divine orchestration, Isaiah 54, Verse 16 proclaims, “Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire… and I have created the waster to destroy.” When you read about “the waster who destroys” in God’s Word, and recall Jesus Christ’s words about “the thief who comes not but to steal, to kill, and to destroy,” it becomes undeniably clear who is being referenced: Satan himself. This means that God explicitly created the very entity responsible for destruction, presenting us with what is arguably the greatest conundrum in the human mind today: the existence of evil in this world. It is the most persistent question humanity grapples with, wondering why a perfectly holy, all-knowing God would, from the very beginning, create Lucifer with foreknowledge of his prideful fall, and intentionally plan for him to deceive mankind.
The Stolen Masterpiece – Humanity’s Fall and God’s Restoration Plan
The Devastating Impact of the Fall
You might often ponder, “Would He have done that? Why would He have allowed that to happen?” As you closely observe our world, and indeed the entire sprawling history of humanity, you see it relentlessly congested, crammed, and jam-packed with the most atrocious acts of violence against humanity. These are inexplicable acts of hatred, deep-seated prejudice, a profound lack of compassion, and just plain meanness and cruelty, constantly inflicting hurt upon others. It’s a sobering reality that every single human being who has ever lived has, at some point, been cruel, unkind, mean, nasty, or hurtful to another human being, or even to animals, not just once but many times over. While some are undeniably worse than others, the underlying truth remains: no one is exempt from this universal pattern of imperfection.
Consider the profound paradox: when God originally created man, He was made in the very image and likeness of God, reflecting God’s perfect purpose for humanity. Man was given a remarkable opportunity, permitted to freely eat from every tree in the garden, including the vital Tree of Life. This Tree was explicitly there, intended for man’s flourishing, and it’s striking to remember that they were later banished from the garden precisely to prevent them from returning to eat of it, lest they live forever in a state of failure. Had Adam partaken of the Tree of Life instead of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he would have fully entered into the glorious life God designed him to live, and all his descendants would have inherently shared in that same blessed existence.
Yet, that’s undeniably not what occurred. The pivotal question then becomes, “How do we go from Adam being created in the pristine image of God to this devastating depiction?” How does humanity descend to a state where, as recorded, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually?” Furthermore, how do we arrive at a point where “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” as described in Genesis 6:11? The profound shift from man reflecting God’s image to this portrait of widespread corruption and violence originated at the very moment Adam fell, when that crucial spiritual umbilical cord connecting him to God was tragically severed. This disconnection fundamentally altered humanity’s ability to truly understand and align with God’s perfect will.
This disquieting reality brings us to the “law of first mention,” which postulates that the way God originally created something is how it is ultimately intended to be in the end. It’s crucial to grasp that these verses detailing humanity’s wickedness and the world’s violence are emphatically not God’s original plan for man; rather, they reflect someone else’s distorting influence. You realize, of course, that our world is still tragically like this today, profoundly filled with violence, and the thoughts of many hearts are still continuously inclined towards evil. Mankind, in essence, has not fundamentally changed without divine intervention. Do you truly believe people are like this because it’s their deepest desire? Adam, disconnected from God, lost his innate ability to fully perceive and understand God’s original, glorious design, a profound consequence of that initial, transformative break.
Inheriting Adam’s Image
You might wonder why humanity struggles with certain ingrained tendencies, and the profound truth is that all of us, as descendants, were inherently made in Adam’s image and likeness from the very beginning. This isn’t a choice you or anyone else makes; rather, it’s a fundamental aspect of your being, something you inherited and cannot help but reflect. You see, this inherent nature isn’t some behavior we consciously adopt; instead, it’s what was passed down through generations from Adam himself. This deeply rooted condition defines who humanity is now, and what many find challenging to grasp is that God not only permitted this state to exist but meticulously planned it as part of His grand, overarching design that encompasses all things.
As you observe the world around you, have you ever noticed that God isn’t orchestrating mass conversions or saving people on a massive scale? Instead, what you often witness is a more selective unfolding: every so often, an individual comes to a profound comprehension of the gospel—that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again—and through belief and trust in this truth for the forgiveness of sins, they are miraculously saved. Yet, while you might experience this profound personal transformation, your friends, family, and colleagues often remain unchanged, leaving you feeling like you’re the sole one with this understanding. This isn’t random; it’s because God is currently operating within a different, larger purpose, a purpose far beyond your immediate comprehension, which, over time, will gradually reveal its immense scope and significance to you.
The Metaphor of the Stolen Painting
To truly grasp this complex reality, imagine a passionate artist standing before a pristine, blank canvas, utterly captivated by the woman of his dreams. With immense love and meticulous care, he begins to paint her portrait, carefully detailing every feature—her eyes, nose, mouth, hair, and body—creating the most beautiful and glorious depiction imaginable. This vivid scene serves as a powerful metaphor for God’s creation of Adam, forming him exquisitely from the dust of the ground. However, just as the artist applies the final touches, the studio door is violently shattered, and a thief bursts in, stealing the priceless canvas and vanishing. This dramatic theft perfectly illustrates God watching as the devil, like that thief, unlawfully claims His cherished creation. In essence, you, and all of humanity, are like that stolen property, a precious masterpiece taken from its rightful Creator, with the key distinction being that God, unlike the artist, knew this would transpire as part of His intricate plan.
Eventually, that stolen painting is found and returned to the artist, yet when it reappears, it is far from its original pristine condition. The thief, whose sole intent was to steal, kill, and destroy, has severely defaced the masterpiece, marring it with crude crayons, disfiguring and damaging it until it’s barely recognizable. It wasn’t the painting’s fault it was intercepted, distorted, and damaged; it was an innocent victim in the hands of destruction. This heartbreaking imagery profoundly reflects your own spiritual condition and that of every human being: we are like that marred canvas, victims of the enemy’s destructive touch, disfigured and changed from our original, glorious design. Understanding this inherited state—this “stolen property” aspect of humanity—is a crucial piece of the puzzle in comprehending God’s ultimate plan and His unwavering purpose for all creation.
Restoration, Not Destruction: God’s Redemptive Purpose
When a precious painting is returned to its artist after being stolen and defaced, perhaps with crayon marks, does he cast it into the fireplace in anger, teaching it a lesson for its ordeal? Absolutely not. Instead, he meticulously places it back on its pedestal, carefully washing away the imperfections and restoring it to its former, pristine state. He reconciles it, making it whole again, much like it was before it endured the pain, suffering, and anguish of being separated from its creator and held in the hands of an enemy. This act of restoration, rather than vengeful destruction, reveals a profound lesson about reconciliation.
This leads us to ponder a deeper question: why does God allow suffering and deviation from His perfect plan? It might seem counterintuitive, but the speaker suggests that God not only allowed but, in a sense, planned for this to happen. Consider a perfect child, one who always obeys, is always helpful, and never disobeys. While you would undoubtedly love such a child, their perfection might lead them to expect your love as a given, perhaps never truly appreciating its depth because it feels inherently deserved, with no contrast against which to measure it.
However, imagine a child who is rebellious, angry, disobedient, even violent—a thief, a liar, a rebel of the highest degree. If, despite these profound flaws, his mother continues to love him unconditionally, then he is forced to pause and truly internalize, “Oh my God, she loves me, even me.” It is only through the stark contrast of a life lived in rebellion against the one who loves him so profoundly that he can genuinely appreciate the extraordinary nature of that love. This profound realization of underserved love is the only way to truly grasp its magnitude.
Similarly, it is when you have gone astray and turned to your own ways that you can fully comprehend the boundless love of God. He had to orchestrate events in a way that would allow for the revelation of His love, mercy, long-suffering, kindness, and patience. Without the allowance of Lucifer’s pride and the subsequent deception, without the existence of sin, we would never have truly known or appreciated these divine attributes. This current “work of an enemy” serves a far greater plan and purpose, ultimately designed to help us appreciate this magnificent God who created us, revealing His glory in a way that absolute, unbroken perfection never could.
Your Place in the Story – The Dispensation of Grace and Your Mandate
Understanding the Biblical Ages
You are uniquely positioned within God’s grand design, understanding that His very nature is governed by light, life, and love, and that He orchestrates all things according to the perfect counsel of His own will. The Bible, in its profound wisdom, reveals this divine plan through distinct ages or eons, each with its specific purpose and timeframe. While past ages, like the Old Testament era from Adam to Moses or the period of the four Gospels, served their divine purpose for those who lived within them, their events were specifically for that time and hold different implications than our current reality. It’s crucial to recognize that what transpired then was for them, not directly for you and me in this present age.
The Present Age: The Dispensation of Grace
Transitioning from those earlier times, you now find yourself living in the profound Dispensation of Grace. This era commenced after the pivotal death of Jesus Christ and the subsequent fall of Israel, marked by the commissioning of Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul. The exact point of its inception—whether in Acts 9, 13, 18, or 28—is less significant than the undeniable truth that every single person alive today is living under this grace. While discussions about how this dispensation will conclude, leading into the future tribulation and ultimately a new heaven and new earth where all creation will be made new, are interesting, these future events are not your primary focus or concern.
Therefore, your vital call and present mandate are not to dwell on what happened in previous ages or to worry about what lies beyond this current dispensation. Instead, your responsibility today, in this precise moment of God’s plan, is to courageously preach the Word. This involves proclaiming the glorious gospel of the grace of God: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This powerful message is given to you for this specific time, liberating you from the burdens of past obligations or future prophecies that are not addressed to you.
Your Commission: Preaching the Mystery
Indeed, as it is written in Ephesians 3:8, you are entrusted with the remarkable grace to preach among the nations—the ethnos, meaning all ethnicities—the unsearchable riches of Christ. Your mission is to make all people see what is the fellowship of this profound mystery, which was hidden from the beginning of the world in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. This unique revelation and the dispensation of the grace of God are your specific inheritance and commission, urging you to live out and declare this truth boldly in your present time, rather than becoming entangled with what transpired in times that have passed or contemplating what is yet to come.
Through God’s immeasurable grace, a profound mystery has been divinely revealed to you: the nations, formerly separate, are now fellow heirs and integral parts of the same spiritual body, deeply partaking in His glorious promise through Christ. This astonishing truth, once veiled in ages past, is now illuminated by the Spirit, declaring that what was formerly hidden from humanity has been made known to His holy apostles and prophets, inviting all into this unified, sacred fellowship.
This profound revelation compels us to preach, to share the unsearchable riches of Christ and the fellowship of this mystery, which has been concealed since the world’s beginning, yet now unveiled through Jesus Christ. You might wonder why we need to continue sharing the gospel if God’s ultimate plan is sovereign; the answer is beautifully simple: it is precisely what God desires and commands us to do in this present age. Our divine instruction is to present Jesus Christ, who has fully reconciled us to Himself, embracing this call without questioning His ultimate purpose or His gospel for today.
Conclusion: Embracing Your Eternal Destiny
Therefore, standing in this truth, if you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, understand that not everyone will be saved in the way some presume. Today, however, is a profound opportunity, for salvation is found precisely here and now. Do not delay, but embrace this moment to receive the ultimate gift of grace that is freely offered to you.
To be saved, you are simply asked to believe. Trust that Jesus died, was buried, and then rose again, just as Ephesians 1:12 proclaims. This is not about adding works or striving; true faith means you understand that God did it all through Christ. When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” He unequivocally meant it—the payment is complete, paid in full, requiring nothing more from your efforts. Believing in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for you is, without doubt, the most eternally significant decision you will ever make.
Disclaimer: The content on this blog is for informational purposes only. Author’s opinions are personal and not endorsed. Efforts are made to provide accurate information, but completeness, accuracy, or reliability are not guaranteed. Author is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this blog. It is recommended to use information on this blog at your own terms.
