No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 2:7 NIV
I am not really big on long-range planning. Actually, I am terrible at it. I find it hard to look into the future and make concrete plans. I do much better planning a day, or even a week, ahead.
But God is not like me. His plan for creation was set in place before he began to create. And his plan has not changed. He knew we would fall into rebellion against him. And he knew what he would do to restore that relationship. And not just restore it, but elevate it. Jesus’ redemptive death on the cross was not a fallback plan necessitated by the fall of humanity. Rather, it was his plan all along.
In this passage, Paul talks about God’s wisdom. Wisdom that is unlike that of the created order, whether physical or spiritual. This wisdom of God was hidden from all of us until the time was right. God’s wisdom is beyond our comprehension or ability to derive ourselves. Only when he chooses to reveal it to us can we begin to understand his plan for, and purpose in, creation.
The highlight of this wisdom, now revealed to us, is Jesus Christ and his crucifixion (1 Cor. 2:2). The significance of Jesus’ crucifixion cannot be overstated. It was an act of God’s grace toward us. An act that was destined for our glory, allowing us to participate in the life of God.