02/26/2026
In Thought
“And these are ancient things.” (1 Chronicles 4:22) Yet not so ancient as those treasures that delight our souls. Let us reflect on them—handling them like misers with gold. The sovereign choice of the Father, who elected us to eternal life before the earth was formed, is truly ancient. We were chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). That choice was not cold or mechanical—it flowed from everlasting love. The Father loved us from the beginning.
God’s eternal purpose—to redeem, cleanse, and glorify us—was established long before creation. This purpose is rooted in unchanging love and absolute sovereignty. The covenant is called “everlasting,” and Jesus, the one who guaranteed it, is “from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). He pledged Himself for us before the stars ever shone. In Him, the elect were destined for eternal life.
This divine union between Christ and His people—formed in eternity—remains the foundation of our hope. How good it is to dwell on these ancient things. How sad that so many Christians neglect or reject them. If we grasped the depth of our sin, wouldn’t we more readily adore such grace?
Let us rejoice in these truths, echoing the words of an old hymn:
“A monument of grace,
A sinner saved by blood;
The streams of love I trace
Up to the Fountain, God;
And in his sacred bosom see
Eternal thoughts of love to me.”
— Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
In Reflection
Our sense of self often falls victim to the “tyranny of the now,” especially when navigating the volatile landscape of emotional healing or recovery. We tend to view our identity as something built or broken within the last twenty-four hours; if we stayed sober or maintained a positive mood, we feel valuable, but a setback can leave us feeling discarded. Spurgeon’s meditation on “ancient things” serves as the vital theological anchor for this instability. It invites us to lift our gaze from our current symptoms toward a divine union that was solidified before the stars were ever formed.
Realizing you were “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world” reframes your entire struggle. Your worth is not a modern construction; it is not a “work in progress” that depends on your success today or your failures yesterday. This everlasting love is a “monument of grace” that predates your birth, your diagnosis, and your deepest regrets. When you feel like an “afterthought” or a “burden” to the world, these ancient truths act as a ballast for your soul. They remind you that you are a participant in an eternal covenant that God personally initiated and has pledged to uphold.
Finding rest in these “ancient things” offers a quiet, unshakeable resilience. It empowers you to trace the “streams of love” in your life back to their source—the “Fountain” of God’s own heart. In a world characterized by shifting ground and fickle feelings, the reality that Christ pledged Himself to you “from of old” provides an absolute foundation. You aren’t a new project that God is tentatively trying out; you are a beloved soul He has held in His mind for eternity. Which part of your “current story”—perhaps a recent lapse or a persistent feeling of shame—needs to be surrendered to the reality of God’s ancient love, and how can that eternal security steady your steps today?
—DH
In Deed
Write "Chosen before the world began" on a sticky note or digital reminder. Every time you look at it today, remind yourself that your worth is an "ancient thing" and not a daily performance.
