Before the foundations of the world, You made a decision: You chose to make man. Even then, You knew the great pain we would cause You. You knew we'd turn away, commit sin against You, and call You a liar. You knew our sin would bring death and sorrow to Your beautiful Earth; and when sin brought death and sorrow you knew we'd blame You.
You still chose us, even though You knew the Great Cost — what would have to be done to save us. You knew the Great Cost of sending Your son and the Great Cost of His Cross. And even more than that, You knew the deep hurt you would feel when many would reject this Great Gift. You knew the deep pain when they would choose hell and then the deep pain having to watch them go there. But, You loved us so much that You would still chose to make man.
There, in that monumental moment, You looked past Your pain, You laid down Your life and You created man.
You see, He wanted us, He really wanted to be with us. His JOY was that some men would open their hearts and believe Him, some would love Him back, really love Him and some would even give their whole lives to Him. And this was His JOY, this was what He did it all for – His children, His beloved.
" … You loved me before the creation of the world."
— John 17:24b
