Before Time Began: You Were Loved, Chosen, and Joined to Christ

Have you ever wondered how God truly sees you? The answer is more profound than we often realize. Before the foundation of the world, before you took your first breath, God loved you with the same love He has for Jesus. In Ephesians 1, we glimpse a breathtaking truth—you were joined to Christ before time began, and His love for you has been cascading over you ever since.

The Cascading Love of God: Unveiling His Eternal Plan

As I was reading Ephesians 1:6 in The Passion Translation, I was struck by this powerful truth:"For the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure."Take a moment and let that sink in—the same love the Father has for Jesus, He has for us. This unfolding plan brings God great delight.It gets even deeper:"So that His tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify His grace."That phrase—His cascading love—captures it all. God’s love isn’t a small stream; it’s an unstoppable cascade. His love and grace pour over us without limit, revealing His pleasure in this divine plan.

Joined to Christ Before Time Began

Paul continues:"Since we are now joined to Christ..."When were we joined to Christ? Here’s something to consider: our very origin is in Christ. From eternity, God purposed to unite us with His Son. And when Christ became a man, He joined Himself to humanity in a new and profound way—by stepping into our darkness, bearing witness as the Light, and sharing His life with us.Scripture says:"Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by His blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of His grace."This super-abundant grace is already at work in us, releasing wisdom and practical understanding. It’s not a future promise—it’s present reality.

The Hidden Mystery Revealed

Through the revelation of Christ—the Anointed One—God unveils His secret desires:"The hidden mystery of His long-range plan, which He was delighted to implement from the very beginning of time."Before time itself, God’s unfailing purpose was set in motion. This plan will reign supreme through every generation until it reaches its ultimate fulfillment: when God makes all things new, in Heaven and on Earth, through Jesus Christ.

The Victory of the Cross

This brings me to what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He didn’t just suffer; He entered our death and obliterated it. As Peter says, by His death, He killed death, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel—the good news that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our trespasses against us (2 Corinthians 5:19).Let that truth resonate deeply: God never had a problem with us. Before the foundation of the world, He already secured humanity in Christ. Not even Adam’s fall could derail this eternal plan.

Chosen Before the World Began

Paul writes:"Because of His great love, He ordained us to be seen as holy in His eyes, unstained innocence. It was always His perfect plan to establish us as His delightful children through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One."When did this happen? Before time began. As the Mirror Bible says:"He associated us in Christ before the fall of the world."That’s our origin story. It’s in Him we live, move, and have our being. Everything flows from Christ.And then, at the culmination of His work on the cross, Jesus declared:"It is finished."

Final Thoughts

Before time began, God chose you, loved you, and joined you to Christ. This truth changes everything. You are not trying to earn His love or work your way into His favor—it has always been His delight to call you His own. The cascading love of God is not just a concept; it’s the very atmosphere of your life. Let this revelation sink deep into your heart: you are included in the eternal plan of God, sealed and secured by the finished work of Jesus. Now, you can live from rest, from fullness, and from the overflow of His unstoppable grace.

Take a moment today to rest in the truth that you were loved and chosen before time began. How does this change the way you see yourself and your relationship with God? Feel free to share your thoughts or revelations in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!