The eternal purpose of God the Father is that the Lord Jesus Christ become the Center of all persons and things in Heaven and all persons and things on the earth. Every work of God is moving toward the accomplishment of this one supreme objective.

There was at one time in ages past a rebellion against God on the part of many high-ranking angels. Through the Christian Church, the Body of Christ, the Lord God is demonstrating His wisdom to both the wicked and the righteous angels. Every angel elected to remain in Heaven will come to acknowledge the wisdom of God Almighty and the supremacy of Christ in every aspect of its existence.

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by [through] the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ our Lord: (Ephesians 3:10,11)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

God has determined that His only begotten Son shall be the Center of all things in Heaven. The angels of God shall worship Him.

Now, let us think about the earth.

Each of God's creatures on the earth, especially the saints, must come to accept the supremacy of Christ in all matters. It is not enough just to be saved from God's wrath. That is important indeed. But the plan of God is that Christ become central. God has saved us to this end.

The issue of the centrality of Christ, which is the question of what God we are worshiping, is divided into the three major aspects of living. The Spirit of God deals continually with each of us concerning these three major aspects. They are security, pleasure, and achievement.

Every son of God is tested along each of these three lines. These were the three tests of the Lord Jesus in the wilderness. These are the three areas in which Christ overcame the world.

Men are tested by money, women, and monuments.

Whether you and I become a part of God's eternal plan to fill Heaven and earth with Christ or else become a competitor of Christ, an antichrist, depends on how we respond each day to the three major issues of security, pleasure, and achievement.

Receiving Christ as our personal Lord and Savior does not immediately solve these three problems for us. Rather, accepting Christ gives us the key to the solution. It is of the greatest importance that we understand this thoroughly, for many today are "accepting Christ" apart from sincere, deep repentance.

Accepting Christ apart from thorough repentance is not in line with the preaching of the Apostles. A study of the Book of Acts will reveal that the Apostles always preached repentance as the means of obtaining forgiveness of sin. If we do not turn from our former life and begin to make Christ central in all that we are and do, we have not entered God's plan of salvation.

To be continued.