For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
Great and wonderful are the ways of the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. If you are in Christ today, the matter written above pertains to you. You have been chosen before the creation of the world in accordance with God's pleasure and will.
Writing to the Romans and the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul makes this very clear:
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29, 30)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11, 12)
You have been in God's plan always. In the fullness of time, things happened. You believed the Word and have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Not for a day or two but for eternity.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13, 14)
This blessed hope is what should keep us going each day despite the troubles that we face day in and day out. May the Holy Spirit help and strengthen each of you who read this to wait patiently for that glorious day when you enter eternity and live with God forever. Praise the Lord.
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