LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
God's Eternal Purpose
Undoubtedly, God has an eternal purpose. To know it, we must go beyond the fall of man, we must abandon the limited view with which we judge the things of God, and immerse ourselves in the mind of God, as far as it is revealed to us by the Spirit in His Word.
Eternity past. To understand God's purpose, we must remove all reference to time and space, and go to eternity past, when nothing existed but God. In the Godhead, the Father loved the Son and lived for him. And the Son loved and lived for the Father, making the delights of his heart (Prov. 8:30).
Then the Father had an eternal purpose - That his Son should be the heir of all. And the Son desired the fulfillment of that eternal purpose, to the glory of his Father. God conceived a plan, according to which everything would be centered in Christ, so that "in all things he might have the preeminence", and that he might become "all in all" (Col. 1:18; 3:11).
A parenthesis in time. Then we see the Father working to make the Son preeminent in all things, creating all things through him and for him (Col. 1:16-17). Adam was created after the image of the Son, having his image and likeness, his life and glory.
From eternity past until the resurrection, the Lord was the only begotten Son, but after the resurrection, he became the firstborn among many brethren. Before His death, there was only one personal Christ, but after His death and resurrection He imparted to many His life, thus forming a corporate Christ. Thus the church came into being. What high dignity she has!
The fall of man brought to light some marvelous traits of God hitherto unknown. In creation He manifested His power and majesty; but, in redemption, He showed His grace and mercy. The Son came to reconcile all things to the Father. After his ascension, God seated him at his right hand, and gave him a name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9-11), and put all things under his feet (Eph. 1:20-22). Meanwhile, creation, even in bondage, awaits the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19-23). When the Lord appears, we will be as he is (1 Jn. 3:2), having the inheritance and the glory of God.
Future eternity. Looking beyond, we can affirm that the time will come when everything will be summed up in one word: Christ. All that exists will revolve around him, until, finally, everything will be under him and in subjection to him. And then, when all will be the Son's, then the Son will hand everything over to the Father (1 Cor. 15:28). Revelation 21 and 22 describe the situation in eternity. There is God, the Lamb and the new Jerusalem. God and the Lamb are the center of everything. So, the goal and the great purpose of God, from eternity to eternity, is to give the Son preeminence in all things, because God's purpose is to make His Son Lord of all.