God's wonderful book, the Bible, contains many stories. The greatest of these is the story of God's scheme for mankind's redemption. This sin-sick world needs no story more than it needs this one. Our ability to tell this story will greatly influence the number of souls that will be won to Christ. Not only does this story need to be told -- but we who are God's people need to be able to teach it to others!

We know that man is God's greatest creation, and that God created him for a purpose. "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;" and it was so." {Genesis 1:26-30} Truly, God has blessed us with all things.

Many years ago, brother Homer Hailey wrote a book entitled "From Creation to the Day of Eternity." This book is a compact version of God's eternal redemptive plan for man. I've read it twice; and some years ago, I outlined and taught it in a Bible class. While I cannot hope to better brother Hailey's masterful job (I recommend that you read the book for yourself), I would like to use some of his thoughts from the book to present a capsule view of God's wonderfully designed plan for man's reconciliation.

This special issue, the last for the year 2000, examines God's redemptive plan. It is important for those who are unfamiliar with the story to observe its wonderful beauty. Equally important is the need for God's people to be able to show our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and all who are lost and dying in sin that God loves, and desires to save, them from sin and eternal destruction. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." {2 Peter 3:9}

Also, I wish to thank all of you for reading this year's Messenger articles. Your encouragement means more than words can express. If there are subjects or topics you would like to see discussed in 2001, please feel free to let me know. May God help you continue to grow in faith and understanding of His word. Continue to fight the good fight of faith so that you may lay hold on eternal life.