Pre-Creation Glory

From: The Eternal Purpose By: Clarence E. Lunden

• 3 min. read • grade level: 8

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1,2¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1‑2)).

The Word, Who is the Son of God, Who was before creation, is divine, and His Person is distinct.

"All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)).

How good to have the direct revelation from God that all things were made by "the Word," the answer to what might otherwise have caused us to wonder as to creation.

There are three Persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Referring to the Son, the Word of God says, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)).

"The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was" (Prov. 8:22,23²²The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. ²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Proverbs 8:22‑23)).

"Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men" (Prov. 8:30,31³⁰Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; ³¹Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:30‑31)).

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me" (Prov. 8:17¹⁷I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)).

It has been estimated that approximately one-eighth of the earth's surface is dry land, and only a part of that is habitable. It is with the sons of men in this given area out of the entire universe that the Son of God found His delight, anticipating the coming creation of man who would dwell there.

God desires to be known in His full character and wants companions in His eternal home. Oh! how we are loved eternally.

It is in this special part of creation that Christ, the Center of all of God's ways and purposes, is made known to us as existing before all creation.

"While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world" (Prov. 8:26²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:26)).

How good to have a glimpse of what took place in heaven before creation when we hear Him say to the Father, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psa. 40:7,8⁷Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, ⁸I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:7‑8)).

The volume of the book, the divine roll of God's counsels, has but one subject, Christ as the perfect Man, walking and living according to divine precepts in the midst of man's wickedness, sorrow, and hatred to God, ever continuing in holiness, doing God's will, even unto death, completing the foundation of God's eternal counsels, and then seating Himself as Man at God's right hand on the throne in heaven.

In Manhood He said, "A body hast thou prepared me" (Heb. 10:5⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)).

This body was fitted for the One Who is always God the Son, and in incarnation He was revealed in the flesh as Man. His Person never changes. He is unveiled in two natures combined, that of Man as well as of God. He remains a Man, forever, and God, blessed, forever (1 Cor. 15:24-28²⁴Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:24‑28)).

"How wondrous the glories that meet

In Jesus, and from His face shine,

His love is eternal and sweet,

Tis human, `tis also divine!

"His glory not only God's Son-

In manhood He had His full part-

And the union of both joined in one

Form the fountain of love in His heart."

(Little Flock Hymnbook #61)

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