Does God Have A Wonderful Plan For Your Life?

John MacArthur once said this:
"You must not approach people on the basis that Christ will meet their psychological needs. This may sound like heresy, but did you know that God does not have a wonderful plan for your life? Unless you consider eternal torment a wonderful plan. He has a horrible plan for those who don't know Christ. When we approach people, perhaps we ought to say, "Did you know that God loves you and has a horrible plan for your life?" We must approach the problem of sin. The Old Testament says, "God is angry with the wicked every day" (Ps. 7:11). A good, holy, and pure God cannot tolerate evil. So Jesus affirms what must always be affirmed-- there is a divine law that must be kept. If you violate that law, you're under the judgment of God." (Oldtruth.com)

Did you know in the whole book of Acts when the church is first beginning, when people are being confronted with their sin, the love of God and God having a wonderful plan for them is not mentioned once? I find this pretty interesting given the modern evangelist way of sharing the Gospel.

I recently was reading from Jonathan Edward's sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." I think he puts it well to say:
"[God] looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment."

No where in scripture does it say God has a wonderful plan for those who do not know Christ and who do not obey His commandments. He does not have a wonderful plan for those who hate Him and curse Him.

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:40-43)

"For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:30-31)

"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7)

"I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me." (Deuteronomy 32:40-41) And many more....

And so the message for the ungodly is not that God has a wonderful plan for their life. It is you have sinned against an infinitely holy God and you must be born again or you will be punished eternally for your rebellion.

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

Now is the day of salvation, the free offer of the Gospel will not be around forever, so receive it not in vain and cry out to God to save you. For only when you are in Christ will God ever have a wonderful plan for you.