before the world began. Now, if someone told me I'm going
to talk about what took place before the world began, I would
think, where are you going to come up with something like that?
How would you know? Well, we're looking at what the
Bible says took place before time began. Every believer, As Paul said,
has the hope of eternal life, which is the hope that the eternal
life of Christ is my life before God. His perfect obedience is my obedience. His life is my life. His faith is my faith. That is my hope, that He is my
life. That eternal life, which is Him,
is my life before God. I love what the Lord said in
John chapter 14, verse 6. He said, I am the way, the truth,
and the life. And that's the life He's speaking
of. His life is my life before God. That is that return to life.
It's not just talking about the longevity of life. It's talking
about the life of Jesus Christ being my life before God. And it is him who cannot lie
who made this promise of this eternal life. And this life was
made, or this promise was made before the world began. That's an awesome thought. Can't
really understand it. Just believe it. There's no way
we can understand. eternity, no past, no future,
the eternal now. That's a very impossible concept
to understand, but it's easy to believe. We believe in him
who made this promise before the world began. And that word
began is the word generally translated chronos. And it's where we get
the word chronological from the sequential order of events that
take place in time. In time, there's past, there's
present, there's future. That which was, which is, and
which will be. Time began at creation. The scripture points out that
the morning and the evening were the first day. Time is measured
by how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun. 365 and one
fourth days make a year. A day is a 24 hour period. It's how long it takes the earth
to rotate. And that's why we have days and nights. Sometimes
when the night is away from the sun as it rotates, it comes back. We measure time with clocks. We have seconds. minutes and
hours and days and weeks and months and years and decades
and centuries. I was born in the last century. And since I've been alive, the
earth has rotated around the sun 65 times. Just however old
you are, that's how many times it has orbited since you've been
around. I say with regard to my days
and my years, I say what Jacob did. Jacob made this statement,
few and evil have the days of the years of my life been. That
was his summary of his own life. Would that be your summary? Few. and evil have been the days of
the years of my life. Now, it would be utterly fruitless
to speak of before the world began had we not the Bible, God's
inspired, infallible word. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. And what I love about this book
It just keeps getting bigger to me, more glorious, more awesome,
more majestic, more transcendent. I love the Word of God. Now, men have their theories
as to how time began, and I hate it when people try to represent
something and they misrepresented, and I hope I don't do that, and
if I do, please forgive me, but most people believe in what is
called the Big Bang Theory. That's when time began. Somehow
you had this primordial mass, and there was a big explosion
that took place. How that happened, I don't know.
What caused it? Who would know? And that's where
the stars and the planets and the suns came from. the big bang
theory. And sometime during that time,
in this primordial stew, there was a chemical reaction and a
one-cell organism. Oh, there it was. And all of
life as we know it has evolved from that one-cell organism,
and that's when time began. Now, if I've misrepresented that,
I tried not to, and I'm probably not intelligent enough to give
the scientific views that people believe, but I'll tell you this,
that's a whole lot more difficult to believe than Genesis 1.1,
in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. That's
a lot easier to believe, isn't it? The Bible is the inspired word
of God and the Bible tells us what took place before time began. We read in our text of a promise. that was given before time began. Now, where was Jesus Christ before
time began? Would you turn with me to Proverbs
chapter eight? I'm gonna read this entire chapter.
Proverbs chapter eight. Christ is personified as wisdom
in this chapter. And look what he says, does not
wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her
voice, she standeth in the top of the high places, by the way,
in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the
entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O
men, I call, and my voices to the sons of man. O ye simple,
understand wisdom, and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my
lips shall be right things. That could only describe the
Lord Jesus Christ. For my mouth shall speak truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of
my mouth are in righteousness, there's nothing forward or perverse
in them. They're all plain to him that
understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive
my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice
gold, for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that
may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell
with prudence and find out knowledge witty inventions. The fear of
the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogancy and the evil
way and the froward mouth, do I hate? Counsel is mine and sound
wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength. By me kings reign and princes
decree justice. Just a note, I know who the next
president is going to be. The one who he decreed for it
to be so. We rest in that. We're thankful that the Lord
is in absolute control. He said, by me, kings reign and
princes decree justice. By me, princes rule and nobles,
even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me, and
those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honor with
me, yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold,
yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I leave the
way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment, that
I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I'll
fill their treasure. The Lord possessed me in the
beginning of His way, before His works of old. He's talking
about before creation. I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, wherever the earth was, when there were
no depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains
abounding with water, before the mountains were settled, before
the hills was I brought forth. While as yet he had not made
the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust
of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there. When
he set a compass upon the face of the depth, when he established
the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when
he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass
his commandment. When he appointed the foundations of the earth,
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him. I was daily his
delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in the habitable
parts of the earth. And my delights were with the
sons of men. Even then, before creation, my
delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore, hearken unto
me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear
instruction, be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that
heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the post
of my doors. For whoso findeth me, findeth
life, that everlasting life he was speaking of, and shall obtain
favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me
wrongeth his own soul. All they that hate me love death. Now here we have the words of
the Lord. before the foundation of the world. I love John 1,
1, and 2. In the beginning was the Word. He didn't begin then. He already
was. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. We've
just been reading about it. As a separate person, the Son
of God, the Word was with God. And the Word was God. He is God. Jesus Christ is God. The same was. He eternally was
in the beginning with God. When he was praying his great
high priestly prayer for his people, let me read to you what
he said in verse 4. I have glorified thee on the
earth. I finished the work which thou
gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou
me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee
before the world was. Look in verse 24. Father, I will that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am. that they may
behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me
before the foundation of the world. So here the Lord tells
us about what took place before the foundation of the world.
And the Bible gives us specifics about before there was time.
And then John spoke in Revelation chapter 10, six, that there should
be time no longer, eternity. Eternity, no yesterday. No tomorrow,
everything in the eternal now. And think of these statements
we read of eternal life, eternal heaven, eternal salvation. I love what Paul said when he
was talking about what every believer has, an eternal weight
of glory. What an awesome thing to think
about. This is every believer's possession, an eternal weight
of glory. We also read of eternal damnation
and eternal destruction and eternal punishment. Paul says, while
we look, not on things which are seen, but things which are
not seen. For the things that are seen,
everything that you see is temporal, it's temporary. But the things
which are not seen are eternal. Turn with me to Isaiah chapter
46 for a moment. Verse nine. Remember the former things of
old. Now he's talking about eternity. Well, how do we remember eternity?
I don't know. But he says, remember the former things of old. For I am God and there's none
else. I am God and there is none like
me, declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times,
Eternity, the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel
shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. Whatever comes to
pass in time is what he purposed in eternity. And that covers
everything. Everything mundane, I don't care
if it's the flight of a particle of dust through the air. This covers everything. He purposed it all, and I like
saying this, it's not difficult for him. Now, this is a passage
I quote almost every time I preach, but turn with me, I want you
to look at it with me, Revelation chapter 13. Verse 8, and all that dwell upon the earth
will worship him, the beast. All who dwell upon the earth
will worship this beast whose names are not written in the
book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Now the whole Bible can be interpreted
through that verse. The Lamb literally having been
slain. Not the Lamb who would be slain.
The Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world before
time. He was the Lamb having been slain. Now, why was he slain? One reason. sin. Before time began, before there
was a sinner, he was the savior of sinners and he was the lamb
slain from the very foundation of the world. And this was not
a generic death. He was slain for a specific people. Those whose names were written
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world. If I'm a believer, if you're
a believer, my name is written in that book. I know my mommy
and daddy gave me a name, but that name was mine before they
ever gave it to me. It was the name he gave me when
I was put in that book, the lamb having been slain from the foundation
of the world. Now turn to Revelation 17, verse
eight. The beast that thou sawest, Revelation
17, eight, the beast that thou sawest was and is not. and shall
ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And
they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were
not written." These are the people who follow this beast. The names
who were not written. In the book of life, from the
foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, it is
and is not. Turn to Revelation 20. John says, and I saw a great
white throne and him that sat on it from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for
them. And I saw the dead. This is talking about the final
judgment. There's only one judgment and this describes it. And I
saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books
were opened. Do you know this book is mentioned
in Daniel chapter 12? This is the book mentioned in
Revelation chapter five, the eternal decrees of God with all
the names of God's elect in it. But he said, I saw the dead small
and great stand before God and the books plural were opened.
And another book singular was open, which is the book of life.
And the dead were judged out of those things were written
in the books period, according to their works. and the sea gave
up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man
according to their works, and death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire, this is the second death, and whosoever was
not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire. Do you remember when the Lord
said to his disciples, and this rejoice not, that the demons
are subject unto you, but rather rejoice that your names are written
in heaven. What an awesome, glorious thought. God created the world. He purposed
the fall of our first father, Adam, for all of this to take
place. This is the eternal purpose which
he purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And we just heard in
that song, there's a lot of things we don't understand, but judge
not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace behind
a frowning providence. He hides a smiling face. Think of what Paul said in Ephesians
chapter one, verse four, according as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world. You remember when it says later
on in that chapter that we should be to the praise of his glory
who first trusted in Christ? When did God first trust in Christ?
before the foundation of the world when he stood as my surety
and took complete responsibility for my salvation. Now I would like you to turn
to Hebrews chapter four for a moment. Hebrews chapter four. Verse three. For we which have believed do
enter into rest. As he said, as I've sworn in
my mouth, they shall not enter into my rest. Those who did not
believe, although the works were finished from the foundation
of the world. All the works were what? When were they finished? From
the foundation of the world, eternity. What does that mean?
Well, it means all the works were finished from the foundation
of the world. That's exactly what it means. What is included
in all? The same all Paul spoke of when
he said, and we know that all things work together for good. them that love God to them who
are the called according to His purpose. Every event in time
was decreed in eternity. I love Ecclesiastes chapter 3
verse 1. To everything there's a season
and a time to every purpose under heaven. The lot is cast into
the lap. We think of that as chance, happenstance. The lot is cast into the lap
But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. He has complete
control over every action, all the free and uncoerced actions
of men, he directs. And everything that happens in
time was decreed in eternity. The lamb having been slain and
seated at the right hand of the father from the foundation of
the world. I love thinking about this. He
was slain before the foundation of the world. He was raised from
the dead before the foundation of the world. Paul said in Romans
chapter 8 verse 29, for whom he did foreknow, not what he foreknew, whom he
did foreknow. Them he also did predestinate. to be conformed to the image
of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he predestinated,
then he also called." Now, that place takes place in
time, doesn't it? Yeah, it does, but it took place
before time too. The reason it takes place in time is because
it took place before time. Them he also called, whom he
called, them he also justified. Before time. Before time, eternal
justification. And that is evidence that that's
what it means because it says for whom He justified, then He
also glorified. Not He will glorify, He glorified. All this took place before time. And it must be this way. Now
understand this with regard to justification. God said I'll
by no means clear the guilty. Do you hear what He said? Under
no circumstances whatsoever will I ever clear someone who is guilty. Every believer has never been
guilty before God in their state of eternal justification. It
was all done before time began. But I sinned in time. Yeah, I
know you sinned in time. I did too. But in due time, Christ
died for the ungodly. The lamb having been slain from
the foundation of the world. Don't you love it the way it
doesn't say whom he will glorify? This is not prophetic. This is
historic. He's already glorified. Every believer in the person
of his son. It's a thing already done. Now
you might be looking at me and say, you don't look very glorified.
Granted, I realize that. But remember, we look not at
things which are seen, but things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporal, they're temporary. The things
which are not seen are eternal. If God says he glorified me,
there's only one reason, he glorified me. He did. I'm seated in the
heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Now here's a familiar scripture.
Turn to 2 Timothy 1. Verse 8, be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Now that catches my attention
because we're getting ready to hear the testimony of the Lord.
This is the Lord's testimony. This is not just some kind of
man-made thought. This is the Lord's testimony.
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner, but be thou a partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God who has saved us
and called us. Now the order is so important,
which came first, the saving or the calling? He saved us. Then He called us. And this calling was with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world. began. Everything I have, every
spiritual blessing that he's blessed me in heavenly places,
I was given in Christ Jesus before the world began, before I had
physical existence. Don't you love that scripture
where he said, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew I didn't have physical existence,
but he knew me. He said, behold, I've loved you
with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness
have I drawn thee. Everything we have was given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Turn with me to
Matthew 25. This is the Lord talking about
judgment day. Verse 31, when the son of man, Matthew
25, verse 31, when the son of man shall come in his glory.
and all the holy angels with him. Then shall he sit upon the
throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations.
And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided
the sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on
his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king
say unto them on his right hand, come ye blessed of my father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world." Even on Judgment Day, these are going to be the
Lord's words. Now, why do you believe? Why do you love Christ? Why do you see Him as the only
hope you have? Why do you see your own sinfulness
and your need of Him? Why have you persevered up to
this point looking only to Christ? Why do you see Him as beautiful?
Why do you see Him as altogether lovely? Why do you see Him as
everything in salvation? Because it was prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. This is an eternal salvation. It was all determined in eternity
and that's why it takes place in time. Everything in time is
what his hand and his counsel determined before to be done. Now, this is objected to by unbelievers. why that will create fatalism
to think everything's already been determined. That will destroy
the motive to follow Christ and it will destroy the motive for
seeking to obey Him in all things. That will kill any desire for
missions or evangelism and seeking to bring people to the saving
knowledge of Christ. That'll just squelch all that. No, it causes it. That's the
truth. It causes it. Now here's what I want to leave
you with thinking about. Right now, we're in time. You know what David said about
time? He said, my times are in thy
hand. Isn't that wonderful? My times
are in his hand. And I love this command. We're
called upon to redeem the time. So what's that mean? How do you
redeem time? It simply means make the most of every opportunity. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to
do, do it with all thy might. God has given me and you this
time. Redeem it. How ugly wasting time
is. Now somebody says, well, isn't
that under God's control? I suppose it is, because everything
is. But how ugly wasting time is. Redeem the time. Because the days are evil. Now, what is it that would make
somebody not love this? What is it? I can tell you exactly
what it is. Somebody that doesn't love this
is somebody who has some hope of something that they have done
in time is going to secure their salvation. That's the only reason
why you wouldn't love this. If you love this, it's because
you see the completeness and the security of the salvation
that was accomplished before time. And he came in time to
accomplish it. And your works were excluded. You weren't around when he did
it. And what confidence there is in that. All the works were finished. from the foundation of the world. And we rest, and we say, pause
my soul, adore and wonder, ask, oh, why such love to me? Grace hath put me in the number
of the Savior's family. I love him who is not confined
by space and time. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you that our
salvation was accomplished in the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. How we thank you that in time
he came and bore our sins in his own body on the tree. How
we thank you that he put away those sins and because that he's
the lamb slain in the foundation of the world, we've always been
in him, chosen in him, accepted in the beloved. How we thank
you. And Lord, these things are so
far above our intellect. But Lord, we believe them and
we thank you for your glorious person, who you are. And Lord, we ask that you would
give us the confidence to know that our times are in your hand. And Lord, give each one of us
the grace to redeem the time that you've given us to make
the most of every opportunity for your glory. Bless us, Lord. We pray that we might see many
sinners brought to bow the knee to thy son for his glory. In
his name we pray. Amen.