THE ETERNAL PLAN
Anita Clark – PastorGrace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas
What do we know about Eternity Past, before the creation of the earth and mankind? Some things we know from the Holy Scripture. We know there was the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three persons of the Godhead.
God the Father - Before Genesis 1: there was no time. God created time for mankind as He created the earth and the heavens. This was part of His plan to redeem the humans at a later date. The fall of man did not surprise God. The title for “God” in the Hebrew language is the word “Eloheem.” This name occurs 2,601 times in the Bible. The Bible speaks of the Trinity, which shows the three persons of the Godhead - God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They work together. When Jesus came to earth, He distinctively showed His love for His Father and spoke of Him often to those around Him.
God The Son - John 1:1 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” Jesus is the Word. In John 17:5, & 24-26 Jesus prayed to His Father before He went to Gethsemane, and ultimately to the cross. Colossians 1:14-20 speaks of Jesus Christ as the Creator, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven; and that are in earth, visible and invisible...”. Of course God the Father and the Son always worked together on all things.
The Holy Spirit - the Triune God includes, this personage. Genesis 1:2 declares that in the beginning the earth was “...without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep, And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” In Hebrews 9:14 it is said of Him, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Purposes and plans were made before time. Before the earth was formed, the Godhead, Father, Son and Spirit held a “mighty council, and divine foundation laid” (one of the Grace and Glory songs).” This was all decided before the Fall of Satan (Isa. 14:12-17). Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law; to redeem them that were under the curse of the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because, ye are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father,...thou art no more a servant (slave), but a son, and if a son the an heir of God through Christ.” The words “Abba Father” is a term of endearment such as “Daddy, Daddy.” The decision of this Divine Council was held before the earth was ever brought into existence. It took place before Satan’s fall. He has always tried to destroy what God has made, and works in the unbelievers today.
As we have already seen - God (the Trinity) was planning many things before time began on earth. I Peter 1:18-21 speaks of the redemption provided by Christ Jesus’ death. Verse 18, “...that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver or gold,...(Vs.19) “But with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” Acts 2:22-24, Peter speaks to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God...Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible to be holden of it.” Also, Rev. 13:8, tells us Jesus is: “...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Even the purposes of our individual calling by grace were ordained before the foundation of the world. II Tim. 1:9 Speaking of God’s plan, “Who hath saved us, and called us, with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Eph. 1:4 says we have spiritual blessings in Christ, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” The plans of the Triune God have always been in effect. Titus 1:1-2 says that we acknowledge the truth, “In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
Satan is God’s Arch-enemy - I already mentioned the Scripture where Satan fell from the presence of God and has become our arch enemy as well as God’s. Another place where this is mentioned is Ezekiel 28:12-19. II Pet. 2:4 tells us what God did with the angels who sinned against God and followed Satan. “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains darkness to be reserved unto judgment.” All through time, the forces of God and the forces of Satan have been in opposition. By reading Job 1, we gain more insight about Satan as he appears in the presence of God, where he is given permission to tempt and attack God’s servant, Job. Job went through terrible trials. Sometimes we think we have awful trials, but in comparison with Job’s, we haven’t suffered much. We learn to walk in victory in the Lord’s power despite Satanic darts coming from the old devil. The Lord strengthens us to have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all things. In Deuteronomy 33:27 it says of God, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
