I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. My husband and I were so happy to know we would become parents to a little bundle of joy. We thought of all the things we would do with our baby once he was born. We couldn’t wait to hold him, hug him and make him feel loved.
Before he was born we’d go shopping for things we thought he would need. We carefully prepared an environment that was filled with everything a child would need to be happy, loved and prepared for this life. We couldn’t wait to love him and teach him all about life. He would lack for nothing.
As parents we have big dreams for our children. We want the best for them so even before they’re born we have plans for them. We’re excited to teach them about basketball, piano, life, love, respect, kindness to others, and God’s unfailing love. Any of this sound familiar?
The Bible says “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
As I read this passage for the first time I thought, wow this is what God did before He created us. What great joy He must have felt preparing this beautiful earth for us. He wanted to create a world filled with people that lived a holy life, a life we were made to live. But before He brought us into this world, He created this wonderful earth for us to live in. He made the sun, the moon, the stars so we could see the beauty He created for us. He made the oceans and filled them with fish and great sea creatures. He created land and gave us huge mountains, tall trees and beautiful flowers. He let the skies be filled with birds of every kind and the earth with every kind of animal and wildlife.
As if that wasn’t enough, He created the beautiful Garden of Eden for us to live in. Talk about a great “room” to prepare for your child!
Oh, what sadness God must have felt when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit! Because He too had wonderful plans for His children and their future. He had plans to teach His children about living a holy life. But now His plans for His children were at risk as they became aware of good and evil and felt the consequences of having this knowledge.
So when God sent Jesus to this earth to be our Savior, it wasn’t because we deserved it. He did it because it was His plan from the beginning of time to have us live a holy life. He was a father who planned a life for His children, who He made out of His own image. He wanted to love us and show us His grace while surrounding us with beauty. He wanted to teach us His way of holy living, so that we in turn could live in a world filled with love, peace and respect for Him and one another.
And even with all the unholy living in this world, God, the ultimate Father, still wants the best for His children. The Scripture says “If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.” (2 Timothy 2:13). He still wants us to have the life He planned for us, even if we are unfaithful, because He can’t deny who He is. Can you feel the beauty in those words?
“And now He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior.” (2 Timothy 1:10). God is a loving Father who wants His children to come back home and live the life He planned for us. So He sent Jesus to be our Savior, to die on a cross and take away our sins; so we can come back home to Him and live that holy life He planned for us even before we were born.
Oh Heavenly Father, how great thou art! Thank you for being faithful even when we’re not and thank you for freely giving your love not because we deserve it but because you cannot deny who you are.
What a great Father! Wouldn’t you agree?
- Is Prayer Enough When Times Are Hard? - April 5, 2014
- Oh Heavenly Father, How Great Thou Art! - March 11, 2014
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