The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Titus 1:2,
"... the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time..."
So many aspects of God that are revealed to us fascinate me, as does most of us, I am certain. Often these are the things I have limited knowledge of, that cause the "circuit breakers" in my brain to blow. In Paul's salutation to Titus, he mentions that the hope of eternal life was promised by God before the beginning of time. I don't know about you, but when I attempt to conceive of "before the beginning of time" another circuit breaker blows!
Here Paul tell us God predestined, that is, promised the hope of eternal life. He tells us the promise was made outside of the dimension of time. "Before the beginning of time" is a reference of an occasion that took place outside of time using a pointer or measure of time, "before". What is that?! If I say, "before time began", isn't that a reference of time? "Before" and "after" are words that only have meaning in a reality where time exists. Yet, in a timeless existence, God did something "before" time! I'm sure there are many who have a much better perspective on this than I do...
I can talk about it and think about it, but I'm pretty limited in understanding these things. What I do know is that God's existence is outside of the dimensions of time and space. I picture him as existing above or beyond the creation as we know it. Time has no constraint on God. Peter tells us, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8. Some knuckle-heads miss the point of this verse and attempt to use it as a key for the timing of prophetic events. What Peter is saying here is that time has no bearing on God - he resides outside its dimension.
Because God exists beyond the dimensions of time and space, he can look in on anything anytime (from our perspective). As the Creator, he "looks down" on his creation, any part of it, at any moment in its history. This is where we gain our understanding of God as "eternal". Another way to capture it is from what the writer of Hebrews has said, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Hebrews 1:1-2. Through the Son of God, God created the "universe", the cosmos, and, so, time began.
"... the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time..."
So many aspects of God that are revealed to us fascinate me, as does most of us, I am certain. Often these are the things I have limited knowledge of, that cause the "circuit breakers" in my brain to blow. In Paul's salutation to Titus, he mentions that the hope of eternal life was promised by God before the beginning of time. I don't know about you, but when I attempt to conceive of "before the beginning of time" another circuit breaker blows!
Here Paul tell us God predestined, that is, promised the hope of eternal life. He tells us the promise was made outside of the dimension of time. "Before the beginning of time" is a reference of an occasion that took place outside of time using a pointer or measure of time, "before". What is that?! If I say, "before time began", isn't that a reference of time? "Before" and "after" are words that only have meaning in a reality where time exists. Yet, in a timeless existence, God did something "before" time! I'm sure there are many who have a much better perspective on this than I do...
I can talk about it and think about it, but I'm pretty limited in understanding these things. What I do know is that God's existence is outside of the dimensions of time and space. I picture him as existing above or beyond the creation as we know it. Time has no constraint on God. Peter tells us, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8. Some knuckle-heads miss the point of this verse and attempt to use it as a key for the timing of prophetic events. What Peter is saying here is that time has no bearing on God - he resides outside its dimension.
Because God exists beyond the dimensions of time and space, he can look in on anything anytime (from our perspective). As the Creator, he "looks down" on his creation, any part of it, at any moment in its history. This is where we gain our understanding of God as "eternal". Another way to capture it is from what the writer of Hebrews has said, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Hebrews 1:1-2. Through the Son of God, God created the "universe", the cosmos, and, so, time began.
As I think of God's existence outside or beyond the dimensions of time and space, as I think of God's amazing ability to know all there is to know, as I think of his tremendous power and the grandeur of his pristine character and nature, I am reminded of his transcendence. As we piddle around in our worship services focusing on how we ought to attend better, sin less, put more in the offering plate, be more devoted to our "denominational distinctives", and quibble over styles of worship, I can't help but think we are missing the big picture of God at times, his awesome nature and presence, his glory and majesty, his eternal divine qualities. Maybe if we focused more on our breath-taking God, all the other things in our lives, including our weaknesses, just may all fall into place.
Just a thought... What's your thought about God today?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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