God’s love did not begin at the cross

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Did God know when He created the human race that the people would reject Him?

– I.B.

A: Even before the first dawn, Creator God knew all that would happen. The Bible tells us about the “Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, NIV). God foresaw what His Son was to suffer. It has been said there was a cross in the heart of God long before the cross was erected at Calvary. It is overwhelming to consider the wonder and greatness of His love for us.

God’s love did not begin at the cross.

It began in eternity before the world was established, before the time clock of civilization began to move. The concept stretches our minds to their utmost limits. Imagine what God was planning when the earth was “without form and void.” There was only a deep, silent darkness of outer space that formed a vast gulf before the brilliance of God’s throne. God was designing the mountains and the seas, the flowers and the animals, and mankind itself.

In His 33 years on Earth, Jesus suffered with man, and then shed His blood on the cross to save man. “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19, NIV). An important verse to memorize is, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV). He reached out to mankind in spite of its disobedience and rebellion and made a way out of worldliness into His glorious light. God’s love put His words of promise into our hearts, that we might know Jesus who bears our burdens and lifts us up.