EDITORIAL
Scott Ashley
Managing editor
that family—that means you and me. What will existence in God’s family be like? Notice hy am I here?” This is the question of the the apostle John’s description of Jesus Christ as he ages, the great mystery of life. Why were you saw Him in vision in Revelation 1:12-18 (New Living born? Why do you exist? What is the purpose Translation): “When I turned to see who was speakof your life? ing to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing What is God’s plan for you? Many believe they will in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. spend eternity in heaven—but doing what? Playing He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his harps and comparing halos? I’ve never heard a good chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as explanation that makes sense. Such a future seems white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames quite dissatisfying. Due to Covid-19, millions of of fire. people have spent the last year bored, shut up in their “His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a homes doing little or nothing. Do we really want an furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean eternity of that? waves. He held seven stars in his If heaven really is the future of right hand, and a sharp two-edged much of the human race, the Bible sword came from his mouth [evisays very little about it. In fact, I’ve dently figurative of His speaking the searched the Scriptures repeatedly Word of God—Hebrews 4:12]. And and can find nothing about what his face was as bright as the sun in believers will do during a supposed all its brilliance. When I saw him, I eternity in heaven. And for that fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his matter, the common ideas of halos right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be and feathered wings are nowhere afraid! I am the First and the Last. to be found either. (To learn more, I am the living one who died. Look, download or request our free study I am alive forever and ever!’” guide Heaven and Hell: What Does This same John tells us in 1 John the Bible Really Teach?) 3:2 that the glorified children of God So, what is God’s plan for His faithful believers? will also appear as Christ does when they are resurWhat does He have in store? rected and given eternal life in the family and KingWhat the Bible actually reveals is something far dom of God! He states, “Beloved, now we are children greater than going to heaven to do virtually nothing of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall for eternity. It tells us we can become the literal be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be children of God. like Him, for we shall see Him as he is.” That may sound outlandish to you. But don’t take This is the kind of glorified existence God promises my word for it. Take the word of the apostle Paul, to His children in the resurrection of the dead to quoting God in 2 Corinthians 6:18: “I will be a Father immortal spirit at Christ’s return as described in to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. The ultimate purpose of the Lord Almighty” (emphasis added throughout). human beings is to become part of the family of God— How did Jesus Christ, who came to reveal the Father so Jesus can be “the firstborn among many brethren,” (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 1:18), present Their those raised to glory as He is glorified now (Romans relationship? As a family—God the Father and Jesus 8:29; Hebrews 2:10). Christ the Son. That is a future we can believe in and build our lives God is in the process of creating a family—His own around! Learn more about it in this issue. divine family, the God family. And as a God whose nature and character are summed up as “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16), He wants to see us become part of
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What Is God’s Plan for You?
B Tm a g a z i n e . o r g
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March-April 2021
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