Midway through Paul’s letter to Ephesus, he says this:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 3:10-11
The Apostle’s words here describe the eternal planning that went into the salvation of man. It was the “eternal purpose” of God to save us through Jesus Christ. That much is plainly stated, but what is interesting is how Paul says that plan involved, not only the “wisdom”of God, but the “manifold” wisdom of God.
The word “manifold” is literally “many colored.” It is how one would describe a rainbow. Every possible color is visible; they are all unique yet come together, blending one into the other, to form one band of beauty.
So it is with God’s planning.
If you zoom in you read about people like Noah and Abraham and Joseph and Solomon and John the Baptist, etc. Individually they stand alone, but if you zoom out you see how they all lead one in the next, forming a band of God’s Divine planning.
Our salvation is not the result of happenstance. It is the product of God’s perfect mind and limitless energy focused entirely on insignificant, sinful us.
Isn’t that remarkable?