April 5 – A Plan for All Time

"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." – Acts 15:11 (KJV)

God’s truth remains the same throughout every age, even though it may be presented in different ways to meet the needs of people in various periods of history. In the days of ancient Israel, every significant act of worship was closely tied to the sanctuary. In the Most Holy Place, the great “I AM” made His dwelling. Above the mercy seat, between the wings of the cherubim, shone the Shekinah—the visible glory of God’s presence. From that sacred place, the high priest, wearing the jeweled breastplate, bore God’s solemn messages to the people.

It was a marvelous arrangement—one in which the Holy One, the Creator of heaven and earth, made known His will and revealed His glory to humanity. The sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament were not empty rituals; they pointed forward to Christ, the perfect offering for sinners. Though represented by symbols and types, the Savior was not distant from Israel. He was present among them.

The same Christ who created mankind alongside the Father was also the one who led Israel in the wilderness. He was hidden in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. He gave direct instructions to Moses, who in turn delivered them to the people. He was their Commander, their Lawgiver, their Guide.

Many mistakenly view Israel’s experience as a time of spiritual darkness, imagining they lived without Christ, without faith, without grace. But this is a misunderstanding. The people of that time were saved through faith in Christ just as surely as we are today. Their religion was not merely outward form—it was centered on the promised Messiah. Through sacrifices and ceremonies, Christ was revealed in shadows. These symbols were to remain until the day when type met antitype in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Hebrews rejoiced in the promise of a coming Savior. We rejoice in a Savior who has come—and who will come again. The blood of Christ was as powerful to cleanse and save in their day as it is in ours. His grace spans the ages, and His plan of redemption has never changed.

Let us remember that from the beginning of time until its end, there is only one way of salvation: through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.