Based on his essence and attributes, God is ever working in his creation with eternal plans and purpose, which, if eternity had an end, would serve to fully unveil every aspect of who he is-- that is, his infinite glory. Since God is eternal and infinite, his plans and purposes for heaven and earth eternally and infinitely display his glory such that there is nothing that happens, whether good or evil, that does not ultimately reveal rays of God’s glory (Eph. 1:11-12; Rom. 8:28; Ps. 33:11; Prov. 16:3-4).

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (ESV), Eph 1:11–12.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV), Ro 8:28.

¹¹  The counsel of the Lord stands forever,  the plans of his heart to all generations. (ESV), Ps 33:11.

³  Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 

⁴  The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.  (ESV), Pr 16:3–4.

Apart from God’s pervasive glory nothing can exist. Apart from the Lord’s command, nothing can happen (Lam. 3:37). As such, all that God has planned will surely come to pass by his own hand (Eph. 1:11; Is. 14:24, 27; 46:10). 

Though God’s plan is irresistible, he brings his whole creation into partnership with him, including humans and angels, to carry out what he has purposed by what he has provided, whether through obedient or rebellious agents. Nothing can escape his plans and purposes, for even rebelliousness and sin reveal his infinite glory, either through righteous justice or loving mercy. Thus, God fashions both vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy, of honor and dishonor, to reveal the full spectrum of his power and glory (Rom. 9:21-23), the complete perfection of his holy nature. 

²¹ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? ²² What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— ²⁴ even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (ESV), Ro 9:21–23.

In this, God has purposed to revive by election—that is, redeem to life-- some who are predestined for eternal relationship with him while choosing to leave the dead as they are (Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:13; Matt. 8:22). Such redemption comes through the blood of Christ and by faith of the redeemed but not on account of any human-derived faith; rather, on account of the gift of faith given by God to open ears, which he foreknew (Rom. 10:17).

Election is solely by God’s initiative for the sake of his own Son (John 6:53; 17:12), by his own grace and mercy (Eph. 2:8), and for the elect to share in the glorious bond of his perfect love (1 Cor. 2:9). Yet, the elect must not relinquish the call and responsibility to reveal God's glory to the lost and rebellious around them. The Lord has brought his people into partnership with him to unveil the light of his Son in the sin-darkened world.