The Plight of Man and Plan of God
Sin reigns in the mortal bodies of those who are far off in the domain of the devil. Sin reigned in death, and men are entombed in the black darkness. The children of Adam are blind travelers in the valley of the shadow of death. The futility of their journey toward eternal destruction is evident, as they come into the world with nothing and leave the world with nothing.
Men, born in the flesh, are heirs of Adam, the original sinner in the flesh. As slaves to sin, men burn with lust to serve sin. Their minds are set on the flesh, and they lust with their eyes. With jealousy, envy, and greed, they covet what belongs to their neighbor.
Oblivious to their true status, men boast in themselves and their vain accomplishments. Their bodies of death are failing them, and their minds fade into the forgotten. They spend a lifetime resisting their demise, but decay and entropy are the world they occupy.
People must be introduced to their plight. They must be confronted with their delusions. They must know the truth of their bondage, body and soul, in order to be set free. The Law of God is perfectly designed to address dead men walking. It is the light that exposes sin and death, but it cannot save spiritually dead souls.
When man is presented with the truth of his miserable existence, he naturally denies his tragic condition. He loves the darkness, as he lives his lie. Ironically, the Law of God drives man further from the salvation of God. Man chooses to suppress the truth in unrighteousness. His evil deeds increase. His hatred for the one true God inspires him to craft his own gods. The creatures around him serve to become man’s idols. He worships Rams, Lions, and Seahawks on Sundays.
Vikings, Cowboys and Patriots, alike, worship their own image as gods. They fight for vainglory, and they are rewarded with a greater portion of this dark world of deceit. At the end of the day, death is the victor over sinful, idolatrous man. Who can deliver us from this body of death? Who can save our eternal souls from an eternity of torment? Who can dispel the darkness and cause men to walk in the light?
Jesus Christ, the Son of God sent from heaven, is the light of the world. He displaces the darkness in the minds and hearts of the people He has made to be children of light. The marvelous light of Christ is a kingdom of light that invades the darkness.
The way of darkness, leading to the outer darkness of eternity, is illumined for those given eyes to see the truth of their trajectory. Repentance is the way back to God, who has reconciled His chosen people, through the blood of Christ, the covenant. God grants repentance, giving His elect the faith to turn back to the one and only Savior of sinners, Jesus Christ, who sets the captives free from bondage to sin and Satan.
Jesus Christ saves His people from their sins. He saved us. He delivered us from destruction. He transferred us, making all things new in us. As new creatures, we have a new life, with a new direction: the Way. His Spirit guides us, and He never leaves us nor forsakes us, which grants blessed assurance…that He who began a good work of salvation in us, will bring that work to perfection, being the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Christian, this new life, in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, is to be lived in the boldness of the Spirit who bears witness, boasting in Christ, our Deliverer from darkness to light, from death to life. Walk in Him and rejoice in the plan of God!
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 23, 2021
