Alma 12:25-37
In the corruption of Christianity through the means of the great Apostasy, one of the greatest cover-ups that Satan has tried to execute is the reality of a plan: a plan of redemption. No where in scripture is the reality of the plan of redemption (also called the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, etc. -- it's all the same plan) more clearly explained. Repeatedly, Alma asserts that this plan was prepared from the foundation of the world, and that everything that has transpired since then has been according to plan. (There are 7 specific references to the "plan of redemption" in the end of this chapter.)
As discussed previously, there was a plan laid so that when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit that they would still be allowed a period of probation, in order that they may prepare to return to God's presence. The verses then that follow explain how without the plan, there would have been no resurrection, no probationary state, and the word of God would have been made void.
I've always felt that planning was a good thing. Yet, what these scriptures are saying is that without a plan, eternal absolutes such as the resurrection, mortality (a period of preparation), and the holy scriptures (the word of God) would not exist. Planning now is a bit more essential than I has previously supposed.
---
Another term that is frequently repeated in these same verses that makes reference to this planning of our redemption is "appointed." In verse 27, "but it was appointed unto men that they must die... " Or in other words, it was planned that death must be come unto man. The verse continues, "... and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end."
Then replacing the word "appointed" with the word "planned" verse 28 reads like this:
Verse 29 reads "Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory." What was his glory? If verse 28 is telling us that God saw that men should know about the plan that was prepared for them, then verse 29 says that in response he sent angels to cause them to behold of his glory, is not this saying that in this plan of redemption is that glory of God. (I don't even hardly understand this, only that the Spirit confirms that it is true!)
What am I to understand about the divine purposes associated with planning, and how to accomplish the greater good through strategic organization? I keep thinking of how satan's greatest deceptions are those that are well planned and organized. Yet, also there is that prevalent philosophy of chance -- that all this just happened by chance. Satan in some ways understands the power of planning, but in the beginning there was no opposing plan at all, simply an idea to try and rise above the glory of God.
On the contrary, God is an organizer of light. The planning, the preparation, the appointments, the organization exists in such exquisite fashion as to accomplish his divinely appointed objective to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
In the corruption of Christianity through the means of the great Apostasy, one of the greatest cover-ups that Satan has tried to execute is the reality of a plan: a plan of redemption. No where in scripture is the reality of the plan of redemption (also called the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, etc. -- it's all the same plan) more clearly explained. Repeatedly, Alma asserts that this plan was prepared from the foundation of the world, and that everything that has transpired since then has been according to plan. (There are 7 specific references to the "plan of redemption" in the end of this chapter.)
As discussed previously, there was a plan laid so that when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit that they would still be allowed a period of probation, in order that they may prepare to return to God's presence. The verses then that follow explain how without the plan, there would have been no resurrection, no probationary state, and the word of God would have been made void.
I've always felt that planning was a good thing. Yet, what these scriptures are saying is that without a plan, eternal absolutes such as the resurrection, mortality (a period of preparation), and the holy scriptures (the word of God) would not exist. Planning now is a bit more essential than I has previously supposed.
---
Another term that is frequently repeated in these same verses that makes reference to this planning of our redemption is "appointed." In verse 27, "but it was appointed unto men that they must die... " Or in other words, it was planned that death must be come unto man. The verse continues, "... and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end."
Then replacing the word "appointed" with the word "planned" verse 28 reads like this:
And after God had [planned] that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had [planned for] them;I'm not suggesting that "planned" is a better term here. It is just helping me to understand how thoroughly prepared and orchestrated this probationary state really is. "Appointed" is defined as "decided on beforehand; designated."
Verse 29 reads "Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory." What was his glory? If verse 28 is telling us that God saw that men should know about the plan that was prepared for them, then verse 29 says that in response he sent angels to cause them to behold of his glory, is not this saying that in this plan of redemption is that glory of God. (I don't even hardly understand this, only that the Spirit confirms that it is true!)
What am I to understand about the divine purposes associated with planning, and how to accomplish the greater good through strategic organization? I keep thinking of how satan's greatest deceptions are those that are well planned and organized. Yet, also there is that prevalent philosophy of chance -- that all this just happened by chance. Satan in some ways understands the power of planning, but in the beginning there was no opposing plan at all, simply an idea to try and rise above the glory of God.
On the contrary, God is an organizer of light. The planning, the preparation, the appointments, the organization exists in such exquisite fashion as to accomplish his divinely appointed objective to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Comments
Post a Comment