It’s something most serious followers of Jesus of Nazareth believe, that God has a plan for each human being who decides to follow Jesus (who many people believe is God’s son).
For people who have accepted the gift of Jesus, that means seeking God’s will for their lives through carefully reading the original source documents about Jesus’s life, praying (alone and with others) and attending worship services.
Does this mean we’ve got it all figured out — that’s learning God’s plan is simply a matter of following an equation? Not even a little.
One of the things thoughtful Jesus followers take very seriously is the truth that God is God. And we are NOT. God is, in many ways, a mystery. Indeed, God described Himself through one of the ancient prophets, who wrote “I [God] don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that figuring out God’s plan is sometimes as easy as decyphering string theory. Frustrating? Sometimes, but careful reading, praying, attending church and consulting knowledgeable, experienced people of faith can make the process easier.
So what about the graphic (found in an atheist internet community) that inspired this essay? Is God’s plan for so many a life of starvation and early death? Absolutely NOT.
Let me go out on a limb and write that in many ways, starvation is humanity’s plan. What am I talking about? Consider this:
- Corrupt governments in developing nations are often far more interested in spending money on guns than on growing food.
- Stingy governments — and the citizens they represent — in well-off nations just don’t care about people far away (who should just suck it up and feed themselves, darn it!).
- Big business, which is beholden to shareholders, usually concentrates on sponsoring local charity runs and local community projects. In other words, helping people in well-off nations who are potential customers and/or shareholders.
All these things are certainly NOT part of God’s plan. Indeed, a case can be made that on a larger scale, the God that Jesus followers believe in makes His plan crystal clear. In one of the original source documents of His life, Jesus tells anyone willing to listen that “Anything you refused to do for any of my people here, you refused to do for me.”
And because God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only Son (that fact is found in one of the four original source documents of Jesus’ life), that includes everyone who is starving.
You can be part of God’s plan, by welcoming Him into your life so you can learn what He has planned for YOU. Just accept the gift of His Son. And if you’re serious about it, watch as things start to change. For the better.
Frank's Cottage 
I am very sorry Frank, but I am afraid that having
– “God is, in many ways, a mystery. […] With that in mind, it’s no surprise that figuring out God’s plan is sometimes as easy as decyphering string theory.” and
– “the God that Christians believe in makes His plan crystal clear.”
in one text doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
With all due respect but something cannot be “a mystery” and “crystal clear” at the same time. 😉
I kind of agree that “starvation is humanity’s plan” and God is obviously standing by and doing nothing – either not willing to help or not able to – who knows, it’s “a mystery”. 😦
Thanks for your comments. I’m happy to agree to disagree with you. And when I said God is crystal clear on some stuff, I made it clear I was referencing back to the Bible. Did you miss that?
Well said! Thinking like God does take some/a lot effort. But remembering that God loves us – that He allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, thereby making a way for sinners to come to Him – and that He is not willing that any should perish, is wonderfully simple.
Jesus also said, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We need to ensure that we obey His Word to us.
He won’t hold us accountable for not solving complex global problems like hunger and poverty. He will hold us accountable for not obeying the commands He gave us in the Bible.
If god existed nd truly was a loving god then his followers wouldnt be jumping through hoops to simpy exist ! Too many people who do follow “gods” word still starve, die of abuse and war, and suffer through their entire lives!
It is very easy for you too say its in the bible, however, in reality its in the science that most christians choose to ignore! Wake up enjoy this life rather than only looking to your death and what does not come after it, namely a mythical place called heaven or hell!
Thanks for your comment, Dave. Once again, this is a case of blaming God for what people are doing to people – starvation, abuse and war are all problems caused by humans.
If you don’t believe there’s anything after this life – and then when you die, all that you are will become nothing more than rancid worm food – then your advice to enjoy this life and that’s it makes perfect sense.
However, Christianity makes it clear that the life you and I are living right now is simply the introduction to the real thing – eternal life with a creator who loves the world (that includes you, Dave) so much that He gave His only son, and whoever believes in and follows the son will have eternal life with God.
That provides me – and everyone else who accepts the gift of Jesus – with real, tangible, life-changing hope. It’s my prayer that anyone reading these comments will think long and hard about this life and what happens when it ends.
“this is a case of blaming God for what people are doing to people”
And blaming him for doing nothing about it!
If he is omnipotent, then surely he could have done something! But no, he mysteriously decides to do nothing and just let the corruption continue and children die. You’d almost think that he doesn’t exist….
Freewill is freewill, Wilko. Doesn’t mean everyone has to like it. P.S. Frank’s Cottage isn’t meant for atheists. It’s written for people who are open to spirituality.
From our past encounters, I know you’re an atheist, so I’m puzzled as to why you would visit a website that you probably find offensive. Can you enlighten me?