BETWEEN THE TWO BOOKENDS THEOLOGY

( SPEAKING TOUR: May 17, 2009, I will be speaking at Crosswinds Church in Jackson,Ms. Contact Mr. John Novick for information and location. Call 601-573-0045 for information. )



BOOKEND THEOLOGY!!! The Plan of God is not really all that difficult to understand if we view it from the perspective of bookends on a shelf. Large marble or quartz or statue bookends on either side of a row of books. The bookends hold everything in between them on the shelf. God's plan is much like this. Let's see.

First bookend. In Gen.1:26-27, The Great Triune God said, "Let's make man in our image." Let's make man in our existence. Let's make man in ourselves. Let's live with man forever. Paul further states in Ephesians 1:3-14, that humans were adopted in Christ before the world was ever created. Man was to be perfect in Jesus originally. We have the declaration of perfection for humanity originally.

Now let's look at the bookend at the other end of the book shelf. This bookend says " it is done". "All things are reconciled in Christ." Col.1:19-20. All things are reconciled in Christ. All things are redeemed in Christ. All things are saved in Christ. Can you see the two book ends here? The first and the last of God's plan. Sort of the Alpha and the Omega of everything.

Now we have two bookends of man's history for the age of man. From the first Adam all the way to the last human who will ever live on this earth. All reconciled, redeemed, adopted, included in the life of God, all saved. No exceptions. All done in between the two bookends.

Everything that happens in the age of man, between the two bookends, if you will, happens in the fallenness of Adam. All the sin, hurt, misery, suffering, angst, unassurance, and death happens between the two bookends. The good news is that what happens between the two bookends has NO bearing on the original plan and purpose of God and Jesus' MAKING IT HAPPEN for God.

God is just simply bigger than all the fallen history of man and He has dealt with all the sin and problems of the age of man in Jesus. Jesus simply has saved the COSMOS. Man and you included. NOTHING that happens between the two bookends has any bearing on what God has done in Jesus. What Jesus came to do , He did. He sought and saved the lost--the creation, man, and everything else. He finished His work.

Nothing in the age of man between the two bookends has any lasting or eternal impact on what God purposed to do and DID in Jesus. Can you see that. Our God is THAT BIG.

Jesus is the two bookends. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The first and the last. Everything happens in and on His watch. He knows, He is in charge ultimately and He has made it all good in Himself for everyone. The question for all is, "Will you believe it ?"

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Paul Kurts