“But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
While this might seem an excellent description of heaven, and some certainly hold this view, Paul is discussing something else in the context of 1 Corinthians 2. Paul had said in vv. 7-8, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Paul is discussing something that was a mystery in times past but in v. 10 Paul says, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Now it is clear that this cannot be heaven because what was a mystery in times past has now been made known by the Holy Spirit and heaven is yet to come. This leaves us with only one conclusion: the gospel is what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Jesus prepared the way for the gospel. Jesus says in John 16:5-8, “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” Jesus made it clear He had to go away. If he had not, the Holy Spirit or Helper as He is also called, would not come. Of course, Jesus had much yet to do when He said this. He still had to fulfill His Father’s will by dying on the cross. In this way, He was setting the stage for the Helper to come and proclaim the gospel to mankind, which was based on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Because God went to such great lengths to prepare and deliver the gospel to mankind, it should be respected. Those who love God will treat it as a treasure. That is why the gospel was prepared for those who love Him. They will not only respect it, but they will obey it because they love God and their soul. The gospel was created for that purpose and it truly is the power to salvation! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
Jonathan Glaesemann
