“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)

In this verse of Scripture, we have two entities with two different destinies for mankind. The two entities: the thief (the devil) and Jesus – one with a Plot, the other with a Plan. Their destiny for mankind: the one (the devil) to steal, kill, and destroy; the other (the Christ) to give life more abundantly.

The Plot – Since the beginning of time the thief (the devil) has plotted to destroy God’s greatest creation: mankind. The Plot first began when the devil wanted to exalt himself above the throne of God. (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-19.) The devil was so ambitious with his plot to overthrow God, that he convinced numerous angels to rebel with him against God. Being unsuccessful in his diabolical scheme, the devil was cast down to the earth, where the inhabitants thereof have been given warning (see Revelation 12:12b). Jesus said, “…I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Since the enemy could not prevail against God and had been cast down to earth, he waged war against God’s greatest creation: mankind.

It all started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Man was created in the image and likeness of God, made a little lower than the angels, but crowned with glory and honour, and set in charge of the works of God’s hand – Eden (Hebrews 2:5-8). The enemy could not conquer God and His Kingdom, so he set out to conquer man and his earthly kingdom.

In the Garden of Eden, the devil, in the form of a serpent, caused Eve to question God concerning His clear instructions not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The plot – first to doubt God’s Word; secondly, to question God’s Word; and thirdly to have Eve think that God is keeping some good thing from her. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”(Genesis 3:5). There is a half-truth there, but a half truth is a full lie. Their eyes were opened; now she and Adam knew good and evil, they hid themselves from God – but they were not gods (Genesis 3:8-10).

Adam and Eve did die that day, spiritually and slowly physically. It would seem that the devil had now stolen, killed, and destroyed God’s purpose for mankind; the abundant life. But God was not caught off guard. He had a Plan.

Now that sin had entered the human race by disobedience to God in Eden, fellowship between God and man had been broken. Man now enters the world born into sin (Psalms 51:5). He has now become wicked (Genesis 6:5, 11-12).

Thank God that it did not end here. There was a Plan.