The Redemption Plan: Understanding God's Perspective on Human Actions
One often hears the statement: 'What if I did bad things? Will God do something for it?' While the response might be that 'nothing happens,' it is not because God does not exist, but rather because people generally have a superficial understanding of God's blueprint for redemption.
Freedom and Choice
God, in his wisdom and foresight, has designed humanity with the freedom to make choices. The freedom of choice is a core tenet of human nature, allowing us to explore, work, choose, and dream. However, without consequences, this freedom would be meaningless. Therefore, God designed the human experience to include the natural consequences of our actions.
Threads of Experience
The human experience is a genetic and epigenetic journey passed down from one generation to the next. Each individual's life is unique, with its own set of experiences and outcomes. This has been true since the creation of the first human pair, Adam and Eve. Even before they sinned, the biblical text asserts that God knew the consequences of human fallibility and the eventual gradual cessation of life's powers, leading to death.
Christians who believe that death includes a conscious torment in hell are misinterpreting the biblical message. In fact, the Bible teaches that death is a natural process, and not a place of eternal suffering. Many Christians are recognizing this and re-examining their views, realizing where misunderstandings might have led to errors in interpretation.
The 1000-Year Day Concept
Moses, in the Psalms, introduced the concept that in God's time, a 'day' equates to 1000 earth years. As recorded in Genesis, the first millennium of human existence saw people living long lives, allowing them to gain extensive experience with the world. After the Great Flood, lifespans decreased over time, leveling out around 70 years, reflecting the natural process of aging.
The Battle against Adversity
The grand plan of God involves a prophetic promise found in Genesis chapter 3, verse 15. It speaks of a ‘Promised Seed’ who would one day destroy the ‘serpent’s head.’ This serpent is a symbolic representation of evil and deception. The promise also includes the ‘heel being bruised,’ which foretells the persecution and potential sacrifice of those who join the body of Christ. These final members of the collective body of Christ are prepared for a final struggle against the powers of evil.
With the benefit of hindsight, more than 2000 years later, we see how this prophecy has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Christians today are clear that a major part of joining this mystical body involves enduring persecution and sacrifice, contributing to the redemptive mission of restoring and resurrecting the human race.
From God's perspective, the consequences of our actions are not merely punitive but also serve as opportunities for growth and understanding. Every mistake, every regret, and every hardship is part of the redemptive journey, enhancing our ability to appreciate life and contribute positively to humanity's future.
God's plan for humanity's redemption is not about avoiding consequences but about facing them with faith and hope. It is a journey of transformation and growth, leading to the eventual restoration and resurrection of the human race.
In conclusion, freedom and choice are core aspects of human nature, and God's plan involves guiding humanity through the natural consequences and experiences of life, leading to spiritual transformation and ultimately, redemption.