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Thankful for God’s Providential Plan
John TiltonMatthew 25:45-54
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
These scriptures depict the culmination of the ultimate sacrifice of all time; all that prophetically transpired prior, and all that was to come for eternity in terms of God’s providential plan for mankind. Wow! That everything and moment that transpired was a part of God’s plan, even His probably knowing that His son would ask Him that the cup of sacrifice be passed from him or that Jesus would ask if He was being forsaken. What’s so interesting is all of the evidence and clues leading up to Jesus crucifixion that the priests and people were blind to, failed to understand or refusing to believe. Even upon Jesus death when the temple curtain was torn in two, the earth shook, the rocks split and tombs broke open with people coming back to life; that their wasn’t a massive widespread revival. The majority of the people were still blind, lacking understanding or refused to believe … unbelievable! Yet, for me to know, understand and believe that it was all a part of God’s providential plan … I am THANKFUL & GRATEFUL!
The key and crux of the whole matter is that reading the passages evokes such a feeling of injustice and questions of why couldn’t things have gone different, as there were many opportunities for the result to be different. However, what supersedes all of what transpired is that it was God’s providential or preordained plan and that all had to be done as transpired to fulfill the scriptures. Thus, it came down to the pain and sacrifice that Jesus endured knowing that He was meant to feel everything he went through. It is also what Jesus did for us in His words of teaching, actions and serving others that set the example, heart and will for eternity for us.
Thus, on this Thanksgiving Day, I am more mindful of what I should and am thankful for – and that is Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior that died on the cross for my sins that I will have eternal life and be with Him. I am thankful for my wife Lanu and her actions, servanthood to our family and sacrifices. It is because of Jesus in her that I am able to see her example, heart and desire to live in accordance with Jesus, and therefore serving our family with love. I am thankful to my children and grandchildren, as I see the true blessing they are In who they have become and are. I am thankful that they all know Jesus as their Savior and are serving Him. I am so thankful that due to what Jesus did in sacrifice and example, my family and I are one in Him. I am thankful for the church of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that I am able to fellowship with, do life with and grow in the character and heart of Christ with.
Dear Jesus – THANK YOU for all that you have done while you were here on earth to example your heart; and most of all, giving your life on the cross for our sins as the epitome of God’s master and providential plan for all of mankind.
