God Desires Three Things
Before, In the beginning─
Before the foundation of the world (Kosmos: the orderly arrangement of creation--implying not only earth, but the universe as well --Ephesians 1.4) ─
God desired three things:
1. A begotten Family
But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1.12-13
Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James 1.18
2. A created people driven by love and righteousness in a Kosmos of everlasting righteousness
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1.26-27
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwellth righteousness. 2 Peter 3.13
For thou confirmed to Thyself thy people Israel to a people unto thee forever: and Thou, Lord, art become their God. 2 Samuel 7. 24
And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever. Ezekiel 37. 25
Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant: and I will place them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. Ezekiel 37:26
And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. Revelations 21.2
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Revelations 21. 22
3. A physical body that He could physically interact with His creation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father). John 1.14
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5. 30-32