“Long before he [God] laid down earth’s foundations, be had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his
love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us [non-Jewish humanity] into
his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the
celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1 The Message
Have you ever thought about how much God loves you? Love changes everything. True love, God’s love, opens doors that will not otherwise be opened.
Knowing this, the Devil’s adversary comes after humanity in the relentless pursuit to hide God’s love. If he cannot keep you from reaching out to God, he attempts to blind you from his love by locking you into some religious rule-keeping order.
(to learn more, read my article: God desires a close personal relationship)
Consider these three things Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), is saying.
- God made a decision
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations” reveals that you are not some afterthought but instead on the forefront of God’s mind.
How many times have you felt unloved, abandoned, or unwanted in your life?
The Apostle Paul is telling you that those thoughts and feelings cannot come from God because you are at the forefront of his love and affection. EVERYTIME these thoughts enter your mind or overwhelm your emotions, know that they are NOT coming from God.
Part of the adversary’s ammunition is your willingness to believe that God does not, cannot love you. By removing that untruth from your mind, you take a strategy away from the Devil and arm yourself with a powerful truth—almighty God, no less, loves you.
- God made a plan
When God makes a plan, rest assured that it is a thoroughly thought-out plan. The plan we call salvation was millennia in the making (Long before he laid out earth’s foundations) and centuries unfolding.
God’s plan for your life is no less detailed nor significant. When you realize that you are made to live forever, you begin to understand that God’s plan for you is a forever plan.
This “forever plan” is part of why a close personal relationship with the Godhead is necessary. It enables you to see beyond the temporary today and grasp the eternal tomorrow.
- God invites you to join him in that plan through God the Son, Jesus Christ
This is one of the many things about God that I find amazing. He allows you to choose. It is never mandated or manipulated but rather a free choice.
Beyond that, you select the degree of participation. You can choose to be all-in, like the Apostle Paul, or on the fringe like Judas, the betrayer. (A lot can be said about that) The point is, it is your choice, so choose wisely.
God desires that we enter into the celebration
It implies being “all-in” rather than on the fringe. Life gets challenging because you begin determining what has to be left behind to get “all-in.” But, a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is a lifetime journey. The beauty of this journey is that you are alone with God and surrounded by like-minded people.
A close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is an unexpected journey of discovery.
Join me in the journey; it will be life-altering.