“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:8
Before the world even began God knew what was going to happen.
He knew He Himself would have to come to earth in the form of Jesus. Why would He create us? Why would He create Adam and Eve if He knew–they would almost instantly stray from Him? While we will never totally comprehend this great love, we can perceive the mind altering fact that God created us knowing the pain we would inflict on Jesus Christ. The physical, mental, and emotional pain– along with the separation from His Father– a separation that had to be the worst of all.
While I don’t understand why He chose to create us with the knowledge of all this, I can rest in the fact that He loves and values us so much He was willing to leave perfection and walk in this broken world for us. All He does is perfect; we know creating the world was not an accident. We know this truth, but let’s take a moment to bask in it so we can begin to see how this spurs us onto a “poor in spirit” lifestyle.
Acts 2:23 says: “Him {Jesus}, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain”
Let’s break down these words: Delivered by the determinate counsel means: Being handed over to His enemy’s will, determined and appointed by God’s purpose for the salvation of man by His prearranged plan. (Definition based off of Blue letter Bible’s greek word definitions).
1 Peter 19-20 says: “ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”
These verses clearly state that BEFORE the World was even FORMED God knew that Jesus would have to die for us. Ladies, in His great LOVE for us He STILL created us!
John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He didn’t have to create the world knowing what He knew, but He still did.
Because He loves us so much, God extends free will to us. Adam and Eve chose to doubt God and disobey, which marred perfection. Listen to the consequences God gives them:
Genesis 3: 16-18 “ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee….”
The consequences of sin is sorrow. An abundance of brokeness and sorrow. The broken connection with God created broken idetidies, insecurity, pain, heartache, famine, natural disaters, war, confusion– at the root of everything is sorrow.
BUT GOD didn’t leave us alone in this sorrow. He Himself in the form of Jesus came down to partake in this broken world because of His great love for us. What kind of God do we serve? There is truly none like Him. Yet, I still struggle with questioning my value and doubting God. Why? Because I can’t comprehend this big love. Our human race caused the sorrow, yet our God found us valuable enough to come down and expiereince our sorrow with us, for us. He loves us that much.
He left the riches in Heaven and became poor in spirit for us, because of us.
Not only did He know the brokeness we would cause and put in place a plan to rescue us from that brokenness He also put in place a plan for eternal perfection…again before the world was even created.
Matthew 25:34-36 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”
God knew it all before it even happened and He still did it. Let that immense love lay on you today. You are so loved by Him that He created you even though He knew the pain your brokenness would bring Him. God knew that satan would bring evil against Him, that our free will would cause Him immense pain but He put a plan in place to make good from evil:
Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
He valued you enough to create you despite the sorrow it would inflict not only on mankind by HIS VERY SELF. His act of love ushered us into heavenly realms. We are daughters of the King of kings. We sit at the royal table with Christ. Our inheritance is one of glory, splendor and incorruptible riches.
Christ came down from glory and splendor to walk the path of this broken life. He took the form of a servant here on earth. He is the only one worthy to be lifted up, exalted, named King of kings. Yet He lived as a humble servant. He knew what He deserved, but He did not claim it. How?
He knew His true home was in Heaven. He knew His life on earth was temporary and none of the comforts the world offers would last. He knew what awaited Him in Heaven. He knew one day He would be lifted up to be highly exalted. He knew one day the recognition He deserved would be accomplished.
He asks us to live like Him. To separate our souls from the comforts and logics of the world. To live as a servant. How do we do this when we desire so badly to be noticed, loved, and recognized by those around us? How can we give up our own desires and obediently follow Jesus’ example when we so badly want to be recognized now?
We remember what we stand to inherit. Not only do we inherit the incorruptible riches of heaven where there is no sadness, but we will also be glorified as Christ was:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17
It’s so easy to strive for recognition here on earth, but when satan comes tempting you with the cultures mindset of comfort remind Him of your status-A royal daughter that will inherit true riches one day and be glorified. One day we will receive what our hearts so deeply desire. Because of that, today, we can live as a humble servant as Christ lived.
It isn’t about our circumstances, it is about God’s deep love for us. When we let that love soak into our souls and wash us clean, we can pour out that love to others with a surrendered “poor in Spirit” lifestyle. We can live detached from all the alluring promises and comforts we deeply desire because we know one day all our longings will be met in pure perfection.
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THIS! I have been struggling so hard over the last couple of years with a thought process that seems awfully dangerous to me, but I haven’t managed to cut it from my mind. It’s some version “Hey, Lord? Help me understand WHY You made us when you already knew we would murder each other, murder our own children, become self-centered, entitled and self-indulgent. When you knew we would “decide that either you messed up when you gave us our gender, or that you just don’t exist at all.
In this post, you said, “While I don’t understand why He chose to create us with the knowledge of all this, I can rest in the fact that He loves and values us so much He was willing to leave perfection and walk in this broken world for us. All He does is perfect; we know creating the world was not an accident. We know this truth, but let’s take a moment to bask in it so we can begin to see how this spurs us onto a “poor in spirit” lifestyle. ”
I’ve used the same logic on myself, but every time I see ANOTHER story about what a child has suffered at the hands of their OWN parents ? I start the process all over again. I NEED this study! Thank you for sharing your time and the gift you have been given to help others. 💕
Oh Beth! I totally understand! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts <3 It is mind blowing, but I just love how He didn't leave us here in the broken world alone, He experienced it himself <3 Praying this study is a continued blessing! To Him be the glory!