God's Work with Planet Earth

God kicked off Stage 1 of His work with our world by creating it. We could assume there was some planning before hand. And God knew what would happen, yet He created the world anyway. But there’s one aspect of our existence that is disputed and misunderstood among Christians, and since it references back to before the world was created, I think it belongs in Stage 1, before we move to Stage 2.

“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” Ephesians 1:11

So this “predestination” happened “before the foundation of the world”. On the surface it seems like maybe certain people were chosen before they ever existed. Maybe the question is: Who is the “us” and the “we” Paul is talking about? Only certain people? All humanity?

Are there other passages that talk about plans or decisions before the world was created?

“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:20-21

Here’s the way Paul ended his letter to the Romans:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27

There’s a lot going on in those verses, so let me pull out some of the ideas:

• God is “able to establish” us – Greek “sterixai” means to set fast, to confirm, to strengthen, to turn resolutely in a certain direction – He does this through the gospel about Jesus
• The mystery about Christ and His victory over sin was kept secret since the world began, but now we can see how He fulfills all those Old Testament prophecies – anyone can, because it was “made known to all nations”
• This played out as God had commanded, Who receives glory because of Jesus’ mission to save humanity
• This should inspire us to be “obedient to the faith”

So those verses talk about Jesus’ sacrifice being planned before the world was even created. But did Jesus come to die to save a few? Only the chosen, predestined ones?

“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all…” Romans 6:10

“…if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

That’s clear enough, Jesus died for every person who ever lived on planet earth, and that includes you.

If God had His Way

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9, NLT

God doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. So there was a plan for the salvation of humans before the world began, and Jesus was central to that plan. But Jesus Himself made it clear not everyone will be saved.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Why are so many lost?

The majority of people are lost? Why is that so, if God really wants everyone to be saved? Two main reasons:

1. The Devil didn’t stop after getting Adam and Eve to distrust and disobey God. He kept working hard to destroy as many of God’s cherished, created humans as he could. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
2. God gave humans freedom – the ability to make up their own minds and to choose, and not everyone chooses to follow Him

Humans called on to choose

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

God sets before all humans a choice between life and death, and He wants obedience from beings who have free choice, not from robots, and from love, not from fear.

“..choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” Joshua 24:15

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21

The Greek word “pasach” (falter) means hop, limp, or become lame. Elijah was telling the people to make up their minds and stop worshiping false gods along with the true God.

So there’s many places in the Bible where God calls on humans to choose. He doesn’t force Himself on people, even though His desire is to save everyone. This is because He gives everyone freedom of will – freedom to choose.

The bottom line is: You and I can reject our God-ordained destiny to be forgiven and saved out of sin. Or we can believe God and be counted righteous like Abraham was.

“just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:6

“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” Acts 16:31

God made it really easy. No matter what you’ve done, even if you’re a murderer or a thief like the man crucified next to Jesus, God just wants to erase your past, and He’s more interested in your future.

“Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

That man had no opportunity to earn his way to heaven, and his past record testified against him. Yet faith that Jesus was the Messiah and King of a future Kingdom was enough. Jesus assured him of salvation because he had a change of heart.

It’s no different for you or me. But because God saw fit to give us freedom to choose, we must choose Jesus or choose the world, every day. When we choose Jesus in faith, God begins to work in our lives to reconcile us back to the Heavenly family that Adam and Eve were originally created to be part of.