In the Word: Before the Foundation of the World

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be narrowing in on specific truths of the gospel to learn how they direct and inform us in our grief. As we study these truths together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God’s Word each week with us! 

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world.”
1 Peter 1:20

“…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”
Acts 2:23

READ:

Death laying over those we love is not a welcomed sight; I despised the way it looked on my daughter; the motionless, lifeless character it took within my body; and the limpness it caused in my arms that held her empty frame after being born sleeping.

With those memories, I also consider that before God began the act of creating the cosmos, the earth, and mankind, He knew that in doing so He would also be coming to die. That Jesus would come to this earth as a sacrifice was decreed by God before the foundations of the earth. Jesus opted to meet our need and planned to become incarnate to sacrifice His life. The incarnation of Jesus to seek and save the lost was voluntary; from the beginning, the cross was no surprise to God.

In Scripture, we can see that this decree of God before creation was for His glory and to display His character. Colossians 1:16 tells us that all things were created “for Him.” Matthew Henry comments: “All things being created by Him, were created for Him; being made by His power, they were made according to His pleasure, and for His praise and glory.”

“Whatever He does or permits to be done, is done or permitted for the more perfect revelation of His nature and perfections.”
Charles Hodge

All of creation is for Him—His ultimate purpose in creating and becoming incarnate is for Him (Eph. 1:6). He is God—to be praised and enjoyed by all of His creation. You and I are for Him. Our babies are for Him. Our lives and days are for Him. 

Were everything right with the world, we would breathe every moment for Him. And that would be good. Grieve to these themes by seeing your pain in view of His character, His plan before creation to send His Son to death—which you can appreciate more intimately now after becoming so closely acquainted with death yourself.

REFLECT:

• How does the truth that Christ’s death in your behalf was decreed before the foundations of the world guide you in your grief?
• Read 1 John 4:10. What can we learn about God’s love for us through this verse?
• What does Ephesians 1:3-6 reveal about what else God decided before the foundation the world?