Understanding God's Eternal Plan for Our Lives
Summary
Understanding God's eternal plan is crucial for every believer. Many Christians struggle with grasping the big picture of why God created the universe, the purpose of history, and their own role within it. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has planted eternity in our hearts, yet we cannot fully comprehend His work without His guidance. This innate sense of eternity drives us to seek more than just the here and now, pointing to a divine purpose beyond our earthly existence.
God's eternal plan begins with the understanding that everything starts with Him. Romans 11 emphasizes that everything comes from God, lives by His power, and is for His glory. We were made by God and for God, and life only makes sense when we recognize this truth. God is love, and His love is the foundation of His creation. Before the universe was formed, God loved us and created the universe with us in mind, making us the focus of His love.
God's desire for a family led to the creation of the universe. He wanted a family to love forever, and this family is the church. The church is not a peripheral entity; it is the reason for the universe's existence. It is the only thing that will last forever, outlasting all man-made institutions. Jesus died to make this eternal family possible, and His return is delayed to allow more people to join this family.
Our life on Earth is preparation for eternity. God has five purposes for us: to know and love Him, to love His family, to become like Christ, to serve Him by serving others, and to fulfill our mission of bringing others to Jesus. These purposes guide us in living a life that aligns with God's eternal plan.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Eternal Plan: Understanding God's eternal plan begins with recognizing that everything starts with Him. We were made by God and for God, and life only makes sense when we acknowledge this truth. Our purpose is rooted in God's love and His desire for a family. [03:31]
2. The Church's Eternal Significance: The church is not just a gathering of believers; it is the eternal family of God. It is the only thing that will last forever, outlasting all man-made institutions. Our involvement in the church is crucial to fulfilling God's eternal plan. [09:56]
3. Life as Preparation for Eternity: Our time on Earth is a preparation for eternity. God uses our experiences, including trials and tribulations, to shape us into the likeness of Christ. This life is a dress rehearsal for the eternal life to come. [18:21]
4. Five Purposes of Life: God has five purposes for our lives: to know and love Him, to love His family, to become like Christ, to serve Him by serving others, and to fulfill our mission of bringing others to Jesus. These purposes guide us in living a life aligned with God's plan. [21:12]
5. Fulfilling Our Mission: Each believer has a unique mission to bring others to Jesus. This mission is not just for pastors or missionaries; it is for every member of God's family. Our mission is to share the good news and expand God's eternal family. [55:23]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Understanding God's Eternal Plan
- [00:55] - Eternity in Our Hearts
- [02:13] - God's Purpose for the Universe
- [03:31] - Everything Starts with God
- [05:07] - God is Love
- [06:32] - Created to be Loved by God
- [08:29] - God Wanted a Family
- [09:56] - The Church: God's Eternal Family
- [11:21] - The Church Will Last Forever
- [14:22] - Jesus Died for God's Plan
- [16:32] - Why Jesus Hasn't Returned Yet
- [19:24] - God's Purpose for Your Life
- [21:12] - Five Purposes of Life
- [55:23] - Our Mission to Bring Others to Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
2. Romans 11:36 - "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
3. Ephesians 1:4-5 - "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, what has God set in the human heart, and what does this imply about our understanding of His work? [00:55]
2. How does Romans 11:36 describe the relationship between God and creation? What are the three key aspects mentioned? [03:31]
3. In Ephesians 1:4-5, what does it mean that God chose us before the creation of the world? How does this relate to His eternal plan? [05:55]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God to have "planted eternity in the human heart," and how does this affect our daily lives and decisions? [00:55]
2. How does understanding that "everything starts with God" (Romans 11:36) change a believer's perspective on their purpose and actions? [03:31]
3. In what ways does the concept of being "predestined for adoption" (Ephesians 1:4-5) influence a believer's identity and sense of belonging within the church? [05:55]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a longing for something beyond this life. How does Ecclesiastes 3:11 resonate with that experience, and how can it guide your spiritual journey? [00:55]
2. How can you practically acknowledge that "everything starts with God" in your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with this truth? [03:31]
3. Consider your involvement in the church. How does viewing the church as God's eternal family (Ephesians 1:4-5) motivate you to participate more actively in its mission? [09:56]
4. Identify one of the five purposes of life mentioned in the sermon (knowing and loving God, loving His family, becoming like Christ, serving others, bringing others to Jesus). What specific steps can you take this week to grow in that area? [21:12]
5. Think of someone in your life who does not yet know Jesus. What is one intentional action you can take this week to share the good news with them? [55:23]
6. How can you use your unique gifts and experiences to serve others in your community or church? Reflect on your "shape" and consider one new way to contribute. [46:11]
7. What is one trial or challenge you are currently facing? How can you view it as preparation for eternity and an opportunity to become more like Christ? [18:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing God's Sovereignty in Creation
Understanding God's eternal plan begins with recognizing that everything starts with Him. We were made by God and for God, and life only makes sense when we acknowledge this truth. Our purpose is rooted in God's love and His desire for a family. [03:31]
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge God's sovereignty in your daily routine today, and how might this change your perspective on your life's purpose?
Day 2: The Church as God's Eternal Family
The church is not just a gathering of believers; it is the eternal family of God. It is the only thing that will last forever, outlasting all man-made institutions. Our involvement in the church is crucial to fulfilling God's eternal plan. [09:56]
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the life of your church community this week, recognizing its eternal significance?
Day 3: Earthly Life as Preparation for Eternity
Our time on Earth is a preparation for eternity. God uses our experiences, including trials and tribulations, to shape us into the likeness of Christ. This life is a dress rehearsal for the eternal life to come. [18:21]
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current challenge you are facing. How might this be preparing you for eternity, and how can you embrace this process today?
Day 4: Living Out God's Five Purposes
God has five purposes for our lives: to know and love Him, to love His family, to become like Christ, to serve Him by serving others, and to fulfill our mission of bringing others to Jesus. These purposes guide us in living a life aligned with God's plan. [21:12]
"And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV)
Reflection: Which of the five purposes do you feel most called to focus on today, and what specific action can you take to live it out?
Day 5: Embracing Our Mission to Share the Gospel
Each believer has a unique mission to bring others to Jesus. This mission is not just for pastors or missionaries; it is for every member of God's family. Our mission is to share the good news and expand God's eternal family. [55:23]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus today, and how can you intentionally share His love with them?
Quotes
God has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Now, I want you to notice that verse. Notice it says God has planted eternity in the human heart. What does that mean? It means that no matter where you are in the world, no matter what religion somebody has, human beings have a God-given built-in instinct to realize there's got to be more to life than just hearing and now. [00:58:31]
Everything starts with God. Romans tells us this, chapter 11: For everything comes from God alone, everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. You might circle those three: everything comes from God, it's for His glory, it's by His power. Proverbs 16:4 says this: The Lord has made everything for His own purposes. [03:31:00]
God loved you before He made the universe. Did you know that? Did you know that even before God thought up the universe, He thought up you? In fact, the reason He created the universe is because He wanted you alive. Ephesians 1:4 says this: Long before He laid down the Earth's foundations, that's the universe, He had us in mind. [05:42:72]
God wanted a family that He could love forever. God is love. If you have a bunch of love but you don't have anything to bestow it on, it doesn't do a whole lot of good. God says you were made, and I was made, and everything God created, He made to love it. God wanted a family that He could love forever, and this is why He created the universe. [08:26:32]
The church is a family, not an institution. Notice it says it is the support and foundation. Here in California, with earthquakes, we understand the importance of a good support and foundation. What happens when the building has no support and foundation? It collapses when the earthquakes come along, and your life is going to have many earthquakes in your lifetime. [31:43:19]
This life is preparation for the next life. You're going to spend far more time on the other side of death than you do on this side. On this side of death, you get 50, 60, 70, 80, at the most 100 years. That's not very much. On the other side of death, you've got trillions and trillions and trillions and trillions and trillions of years. That's eternity. [17:48:00]
God has five purposes for your life on Earth, five purposes while you're on this planet. There are some things that God wants you to learn how to do. Now listen, if you fail to learn how to do these five things, you've missed the whole purpose of your life on Earth. You weren't put here to be a self-center Claude to live for yourself. [21:01:40]
God is more interested in who you are than in what you do. We're always worried about, "God, do you want me to take this job? Do you want me to take that job? Do you want me to marry this person, marry that, go to this college, go to that college?" God is far more interested in what you are, your character, than what you do, your career. [37:41:52]
God shaped me to serve Him. God puts you on this planet to make a contribution, not to just use up resources, not to just take up space, not to just use air, but to make the world a better place. God wants you to make a contribution while you're here on this planet. He wants you to make a difference, some kind of difference with your life. [45:42:44]
God made me for a mission. Did you know that God has a life mission for you on planet Earth, and only you can fulfill your life mission? God puts you on Earth to first know Him, then to learn some things, then to become some things, and then to do some things. The doing part is called your mission. [54:50:28]
The Lord is not being slow about His promise to return. Instead, He's being patient. He doesn't want anyone to be lost. That's why He hasn't come back yet. He's given more people a chance. He doesn't want anyone to be lost. He wants all people to repent and turn to Him. If you want Christ to come back soon, it's real simple: get out and tell more people the good news. [16:52:40]
The first purpose of your life is to love God and to know God. The most important thing you can know in life is that God loves you, and the most important thing you can do in life is to love Him back. So every morning before you get out of bed, you ought to sit on the side of your bed or kneel at the side of your bed and say, "God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know you a little bit better and I want to love you a little bit more." [25:51:72]
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