“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. in love”--Ephesians 4:1
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God chose us before the world was even created? Especially in light of the past year, it is a reminder that a person can be one moment on earth and the next in Heaven.
As Christians, we have nothing to fear, ready for death, day or night, prepared ahead of time with reservations confirmed and paid for by the blood of Jesus, set to arrive in a second to our new homes in Heaven.
We understand as believers in Jesus Christ what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Our Futures Are Guaranteed
Although hard for many of us to get around our heads and actually comprehend, as Ephesians 4:1 explains, God chose us before the creation of the world, a complex thought because today’s culture is so in the moment.
Less and less, people seem to consider how God had everything planned out long ago, before our first breaths.
Sadly, when we lose a loved one, it’s easy to get caught up in sorrow and grief and forget what Isaiah 57:1 explains: “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”
Because we belong to God, we don’t ever have to wonder about what seems like an untimely death, because those who know God are not lost, and as Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:23, “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”
We Can Trust God’s Timing in Life and in Death
We can trust God’s plan for loved ones’ lives because, as Revelation 14:13 reveals, “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”
Their future was guaranteed before they left, and we can find comfort and hope in knowing we know where they are, that they are not lost, and we will see them again.
As well, if we find ourselves in the middle of life-and-death situations, we can cling to
Romans 8:36-39, which reminds us, “As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Chosen for Eternity
For those of us who experienced as children, and maybe even as adults, being left out of events, chosen last for games or projects, or not chosen at all to be on someone’s team, whether in school, work, or at church, we can take comfort in knowing God chose us.
Because he has, we’re not sitting or standing on the sidelines somewhere hoping to be picked. Our value to His plan has already been established when He chose us before the beginning of time.
He has marked us for eternity and sealed us forever, as Ephesians 1:13 explains, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
As well, our deposit for Heaven has been placed, as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Because the Holy Spirit seals us, God directs us to remember He is with us, and not to forget His place in our lives, as Ephesians 4:30 urges, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father, our hearts are deeply grateful that You have chosen us and sealed us for eternity to be with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Mimai Mig
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 23 January 2026.
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