“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ ” (Matthew 25:34).

Why did God allow the earth He created as good, to be spoiled by us? We learn from the Bible that only free people can truly be at liberty to love God, and knowing that many would respond freely to Christ’s love, God allowed mankind to sin and spoil His creation (Romans 8:19-23). But God still said, “What is this you have done?” (Genesis 3:13). God always knew man would fall in sin (Revelation 13:8), and in preparation, He designed a plan of redemption, “From the foundation of the world,” to give us Kingdom citizenship.

The fall of man was a disaster for mankind, but in the long run God planned to turn a manmade tragedy into Christ’s miracle. He chose us, who would freely choose Him, ‘Before the foundation of the world’ (Ephesians 1:4), and, ‘Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more’ (Romans 5:20).

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God is not only going to restore what was lost in Eden; He is doing far more! Redeemed believers will be more glorious than fallen Adam. We fell as created beings; we will rise in the likeness of the resurrection (Romans 6:5). We were made out of the dust, but our end is to be in Christ’s image (1 John 3:2). We were created lower than the angels; in the future we will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3, Hebrews 2:6-8). In Adam we were dust made man, in Christ we are God’s children and heirs (Hebrews 2:13, Romans 8:17).

God in His foreknowledge and sovereign will allowed the fall of man, in order for heaven to be inhabited by people who will love God by their free will choice, and these people will also share in superior honours than Adam. At least eleven times in the Bible God reveals His plans are from, ‘Before the foundation of the world.’ He chose us (Ephesians 1:4), and fulfilled His plan before man even walked on earth (Hebrews 4:3, 1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8). Before we sinned, God saw the fall and prepared His remedy and redemption to more glorious things!

This is an excerpt from the book ‘Jesus Today - Daily Devotional - 100 Days with Jesus Christ’ by Paul Backholer and is used by permission.