Laughing Waters

From the Foundation of the World

“…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)

Redemption is at the very heart of God.  Before the foundation of the world, the Scripture says, Jesus was slain for our sins.  Think about that.  Before God said, “Let there be light,” before He placed the stars in the sky or caused dry land to appear, a Lamb was slain.   Before man ever made the choice to sin – there was a Lamb, slain.

I Peter 1:18-20 says,

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you…” (NKJV)

This is one of the great marvels of the Bible.  It also says something about God.  More than justice or truth, holiness or righteousness, God longs for redemption.  He delights in rescue.  He specializes in redeeming the broken pieces of our lives and transforming them into something beautiful.

What does this mean for you and me?  It means that no matter what mess we may have put ourselves in, we are not beyond the redemptive reach of God.  Before you made even the tiniest mistake, the smallest blunder, or committed a deliberate sinful act, a Lamb was slain for you.  It means that your greatest failure does not separate you from God’s love.

Before the foundation of the earth was laid, God loved you and forgave you.  Whatever sin you have committed, or will commit, it has already been forgiven.  The price for your sins has already been paid.

We have all strayed from Father God’s presence.  We have wandered away from him and fallen into sin.  Somewhere along the way we remembered our Father.  We turned back to see the look of disappointment on His face.  Then we returned to Him, with regret and remorse and tears of repentance.  In light of our sins, rejection from Him seemed reasonable.  But when we returned to His house we were not greeted by a stern gaze of condemnation.  We found a place had been set for us at His table.  He greeted us with words of love.  He says, “My child, this table has been waiting for you.  It was prepared from the foundation of the world.”