“Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).
Ninety million miles come the sunbeams through space, before they touch the roots and grasses and the flowers in the Spring days, warming and quickening them into life and beauty. Through thousands and thousands and thousands of years out of the great past comes the love of Christ, that today touches our hearts and blesses them with its divine tenderness. Christ loved His church. He loved us from eternity. This dear love of His is not a sudden warmth, a recent affection, a thing of yesterday, an emotion kindled by our love for Him. He loved us when He hung on the Cross; He loved us before He left heaven and came to earth drawn by love to us. He loved us in the eternal ages and planned to redeem us. Then His love will be forever unchanging, everlasting. Loved once was never written or spoken of Him. O! love of Christ that passeth knowledge!