What if all of creation was broken, simply so that God could fix it? What if all the hurts of human history took place so that Christ could enter into that hurt? What if everything in this messed up world is exactly how it is supposed to be, in order that God might have a means to reveal His nature as a loving, kind, compassionate God; a God who lays down His own life to buy back His broken creation? What if this is the way by which God receives the most glory? What if there was no other way? What if the cross is "plan A"?

Revelation 13:8 tells us that Jesus is "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world." That's a pretty heavy statement. What it's saying is that before God created even a single molecule, Jesus Christ had already been slain for the sins of the world. In other words, the cross was not plan B. It is not as if God created a perfect world and said "this is plan A," but then Adam sinned, and God had to scramble to come up with a "plan B." God was not surprised by Adam's sin. God is not surprised by our present day suffering and pain. God is a God who "makes known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. He says: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please," (Isaiah 46:10). Creation, the fall, the cross, the resurrection and the future glory of the saints, are all part of God's plan to reveal His character and show Himself glorious. They are plan A. 
God’s mission from all of eternity is to make Himself look good by reconciling unworthy people to Himself through the cross of Christ. He is the center of the story. We are just characters who are invited to participate in (and benefit from) His story. We have two options in how we react to this truth: We can question His character and complain that He created this broken world in the first place, or we can marvel at His kindness and compassion; that He would be so humble, so loving, so caring to enter into our brokenness, lay down His life for our unworthy souls, and fix this broken mess that we live in. He is glorious, and our broken world demonstrates it. It can't be any other way. This is plan A. 
(Disclaimer: I am not at all removing our responsibility for our part in this broken world. Genesis 3 and Romans 8 make it very clear that our sin is the cause for the curses God placed upon this world. Sin is the cause of death, sickness, and suffering...but God sovereignly uses it in His perfect plan.)

Everywhere I look people have their head down. Usually they're looking at their smart phone or sending a text message. Occasionally I'll see someone with their head up, but usually their phone is pressed up against it and they're yapping into the mouth piece. It seems we've lost the ability to be comfortable doing nothing. Anytime we have a free minute we are cramming our head with more information: surfing the web at a bus stop; checking Facebook as we wait for the waiter to bring our lunch; texting a friend while we walk to the post office. We always need some sort of digital stimulation. We are restless if our minds are free to wander. 

But how are we to think, meditate, ponder, or process if we don't give our brains the time and space they need to do so? And more importantly, how are we to meditate on God's word, if we only give it ten minutes in the morning and then keep our minds delightfully distracted for the rest of the day? Sure, reading scripture is great, but if you leave it in your study instead of taking it out into the world, doesn't it lose some of it's effectiveness?  Joshua 1:8 says "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." God's transforming power comes not just when we read His word, but when we consider it, mull it over, ponder it, and apply it. I confess that I am much too distracted. I spend my time with the Lord in the morning, and then forget about His word for the rest of the day as I fill my mind with all sorts of useless information. My desire is that I'd be a man who considers what I read. That I'd "delight in the law of the Lord, and on His law meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2).

I noticed I pray a lot in public, but not so much in private. That's pretty lame. I'll pray at a church meeting, or over dinner, or on stage during Sunday service, or before bed with my wife, but I don't pray about many of those same things when I'm alone in my office, or out for a walk, or early in the morning alone with the Lord. If the things I'm praying for in public are important to me, shouldn't I be pouring over them in private prayer? Or am I just praying in public because that's what a "good Christian" is supposed to do? Is it just a token prayer? Are they authentic prayers? Or is it false prayer? I'm not quite sure...but it seems to me that authentic prayer is one that is done in the private chambers; in our rooms, in our private prayer closet as we spend time wrestling with God over matters that are important to our hearts. Jesus said: when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6). True prayer happens when we are alone with God; when no one else is watching or listening in. That is when we see and reveal the true contents of our heart. That is when we know that we aren't praying for show or because we feel like we "ought" to...but we are praying to engage the Father with a sincere heart and zero pretense. Without private prayer, public prayer can become a farse. But if we are authentic in our private prayer life then, when we do end up praying about those things in public, they are in agreement with the true sentiments of our heart...they are outpourings of our deepest desires, longings, and hopes...they are authentic prayers. 

Lord, help me to be an authentic prayer.