Imagine!

Take a moment to let your imagination roam a perfect world!

Imagine you had a fantastic house—the sort you’ve always dreamed about! And that you lived in it with your family and all your friends. And that you had the type of exciting and challenging job you’ve always wanted.

Imagine you were a very valued member of a most sought after and dynamic team, instead of having to grind through your day’s work, trying to stay out of trouble long enough to collect your paycheck at the end of the month.

Imagine you were in perfect health—nothing wrong with you whatsoever, bounding with energy and that you were able to throw away your glasses or hearing aid.

Imagine you could travel anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds, anytime you wanted to.

Imagine you could talk to anybody at all instantly, anywhere in the universe.

Imagine you had achieved immortality—the thing that men down the ages have sought in vain!

What’s the point of imagining the impossible?

Back to reality, you are saying. What’s the point in wasting precious time dreaming about the impossible?

Well, believe it or not, everything we have thought about or imagined so far is not only possible but is actually a part of God’s great plan for you!

What a preposterous, crazy idea, you may be saying.

The psalmist David also wondered, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”’ (Psalm 8:4). Like any insignificant, tiny speck of matter in the cosmos, man does not appear to rate the attention of any intergalactic power at all! But David continues: “You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (verses 5-6).

Isaiah and the apostle Paul agree in describing this indescribable future: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9; quoted from Isaiah 64:4).

The most incredible purpose

We did not come into being randomly and without purpose. Humanity was created for the most wondrous and incredible purpose imaginable!

In Genesis 1:26 God said: “Let Us make man in Our image.” The apostle John adds, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). God wants us to become part of His family!

And the tragedy is that most people are completely unaware of this fact. Many go about their business in a selfish way, steamrollering everyone else to get their way, living immoral and corrupt lives, lying, stealing and even murdering.

This way of life is allowed by God as part of His great 7,000-year plan. The majority of mankind was cut off from God by the sin of Adam and Eve, and God is giving humanity 6,000 years in which to live life their way and discover the folly of their ways. Thereafter God has promised to intervene powerfully in the affairs of men and judge each one according to his works.

You see, God will not accept you “as you are”—it would not do to allow entry to His family by anyone who is not totally committed to obeying Him and living as He has commanded. Anyone entering the Kingdom of God must be utterly and completely trustworthy.

The transformation process

Therefore, God has laid down certain entry criteria. First, we need to repent of every sin we have committed, every wrong we have ever done (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38).

We cannot make right our sins. Only Christ could do that, and He has already done so by means of His supreme, wonderful sacrifice on the cross. We must accept Christ as our Savior and repent.

Repentance—a deep sorrow for violating God’s law and a real commitment of heart to change from our ways to living by God’s ways—is not something to be regarded lightly. The repentance God expects must be heartfelt, deep, intense and sincere. He does not expect or want us to punish ourselves or attempt to hurt ourselves as atonement. Rather, Psalm 51:17 tells us that “a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.”

Acts 2:38 then goes on: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

For more details on your part in God’s plan, download and read our booklet The Mystery of the Kingdom. Then, if you can understand God’s plan and His requirements for you and would like to discuss this further with one of our dedicated ministers, call us or use our Contact form.

Larry Murray, an ardent cyclist and marathon runner, is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Johannesburg, South Africa.