March 19th - Beyond the Eight Ages

The Bible says little about what happens in the time before or beyond the ages it deals with, just that...

"Eye hath not seen, neither has ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man what God has planned for those that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

In the oncoming ages after this present world has been saved and reconciled to God, ALL creation will love Him.  I think Jesus had that in mind when He said...

 “You shall be loving the Lord your God out of your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole strength, and with your whole comprehension."
(Luke 10:27)

And I think the Apostle Paul had this in mind when he says...

"O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! For who knew the mind of the Lord?, or who became His adviser?, or who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him? seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is ALL: to Him be the glory for the ages of the ages! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36) 

Nothing can separate the world from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

"I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor messengers, nor sovereignties  nor the present, nor what is impending, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (Romans 8:28-39)

I sometimes wonder why our Sovereign God allowed His creation to become filled with evil and unbelief, resulting in the confusion and evil consequences we see all around us. But then I remember that evil serves the purpose of humbling proud and mortal humans...  

"I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens:  It is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it." (Ecclesiastes 1:13)

I am humbled by the grace and mercy God shows humanity even though it continues to be mostly evil. Yet without evil, and the suffering it brings, humanity could not fully appreciate our loving, gracious and merciful God. The eternal good that God has in store for humanity in the oncoming ages will dwarf the suffering we experience now.

The Love, Grace, and Mercy of God is greater than our sin.

"Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for the ages of the ages. Amen!" (Galatians 1:3-5)