there is no "plan b"

so at church last week, lloyd preached on the passage in genesis about the fall of adam and eve and what that meant for humanity. this was interesting to me because i had just read something earlier that day in john piper's book, "spectacular sins" about the exact same thing. so i figured i might should pay attention.

"Consider 2 Timothy 1:9, 'God saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.' Saving grace was given to us before the ages began. That is, it was given to us before there was any human sin to save us from. Therefore, grace was planned before human sin was there to need it. This means that God's plan to save us through grace was not a response to human decisions to sin. Saving grace was the plan that made sin necessary. God did not find sin in the world and then make a plan to remedy it. He had the plan before the ages, and that plan was for the glory of sin-conquering grace through the death of Jesus Christ....Therefore, the biblical view is that the sufferings and death of Christ for sin are not planned after the actual sin of Adam but before. Therefore, when the sin of Adam happens, God is not surprised by it, but has already made it part of his plan- namely, a plan to display his amazing patience and grace and justice and wrath in the history of the redemption, and then, climactically, to reveal the greatness of his Son as the second Adam superior in every way to the first Adam." - piper

or, as lloyd put it, God didn't have a "plan b." this was the plan. God was not surprised when Adam and Eve sinned, he planned it as part of his redemptive story. a redeemed creation is more beautiful than a creation that never fell. Jesus' glory is greater because he has and will redeem all sin and suffering. he is the whole point anyways.

doesn't this blow your mind? its beautiful and powerful and comforting all at the same time. i am still pondering all these things, but it is life changing stuff.

january

"I think its crazy the way things work this time of year
Politicians screaming promises, making sure we all can hear
As for the weather, wouldn't mind to see the sun all wrapped blue
These settings in my mind, and the cold winter breeze, keeps me from our everyday rendezvous

Forgive me I was born in June, that's probably my worst excuse.
I've got to say it, its neccessary...I blame my problems on January.

Hibernation is calling me to sleep, until a brighter day comes my way
Even birds have left the winter for a warmer destination- the place that i call home
Seasons will be seasons but i've got some good reasons for this month to go on away
Put away my sweaters and my jackets, trade them in for little packets of sunshine and longer days.

Forgive me I was born in June, that's probably my worst excuse.
I've got to say it, its necessary...I blame my problems on January.

I will whine, i'll complain, but the state of affairs is still the same.
At least i've got something to blame, i've got something to blame.

I'll blame it on January, i'll blame it on January."

-Micah Dalton


as a fellow june-baby, i agree with him on this one. january always seems to put me in a funk for some reason. perhaps its because spring feels so far away.....