Lord of Eternity

 
Months ago a relative asked me how the Bible could speak of things in the future as if they already happened. No sooner than my silent prayer for a good answer finished, God gave me something to say. I explained the difference between time and eternity. Time is for us the past, the present, and the future. However, our eternal God lives in the now. For Him, all things are now and He sees both the beginning and the end. His view covers all of what we call time and therefore He can say things like:

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13, NKJV)

Not all versions add the last phrase, yet this thought is throughout the NT — in his deity, Jesus is omnipresent. He is also apart from time. This is seen in verses like:

Even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5–7)

How can I be both here and sitting in heavenly places? Only because God is eternal and for Him all things are now, not past, present, future. This is why we can trust the promises of God, for in His realm, they are already done.

As today’s devotional reading points out, Joshua did not say to the people, “Shout, for the Lord will give you the city,” but “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city” (Joshua 6:16). How could he say that in view of the fact that the walls of the city were still standing as massive and impregnable as ever? Yet Joshua understood that when God said something would happen, it would happen, because from God’s eternal perspective, it was already a done deal!

In other words, I can consider all the victories that God promises as a sure thing — in His realm, they are completed even before they are accomplished.

When Jesus said, “In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) I can rest in that eternal truth. While my sin and the sin in the world is presently a foe that has yet to be conquered, in the mind of Christ, it has already been conquered. Since I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), I can also think eternally and be confident of all that He says will/has happened. This way of thinking is called faith!

PRAY: Such joy to trust You, Jesus, and to realize that anything written as if it has already happened is great evidence that You are going to accomplish all that You say. I’m already seated in heavenly places! I am assured that the mess in this world is already overcome, even though I cannot yet see that. Living in time does not negate the facts of eternity. In Your mind, the promises You make are not about the future as much as they are declarations that they have already happened! What peace and hope You give because You know both the beginning and the end of all things!

God’s Word became a ManJohn 1:1-14

Years ago I had software that would transform one picture into another, for instance my face into that of a zebra. It is called ‘morphing’ and was often amusing.

One important result of this process was a better understanding of incarnation. Since using it, I could imagine the speech or words of God being transformed into a human being, a perfect man named Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

This passage goes on to explain what He is, why the very Word of God became flesh, and how He was received (or not) . . .  

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it . . . The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-14)

God spoke and the universe was created. His words are that powerful. Yet the Bible says those words are singular, the Word. It was Jesus, the eternal Son of God who created all things. He is also the light of this dark world and so powerful that darkness must flee when His light shines.

That requires some cooperation, but sin blinds eyes and keeps people in the dark. When the Word came to Israel, God’s chosen people, they were looking for a political leader to get them out from under Roman oppression; they didn’t recognize Him as their Messiah, their Savior. Only a few did . . .  and after He died and rose again, that few grew into a multitude. Since then, millions have trusted Jesus and welcomed Him into their lives. To those He has given a glimpse of His glory, and we see His grace and truth.

Sin’s demise is illustrated in an Old Testament story. Deadly snakes bit everyone. God told Moses to create a bronze snake on a pole. Everyone who looked at it would be spared from certain death . . .

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

^^^^^^^^^^

Oh Lord Jesus, such a wonder to think of who You are and what You have done. Today, that image of a snake (or two snakes depending on the version chosen) is a symbol of the medical profession. This symbol is supposedly rooted in Greek mythology, but every time I see it, I think of You, the Great Physician. You heal the worst disease of all — sin. Sin affects every person alive and is totally without human cure. You are the only medicine that can erase it and its deadly power. Our part is to look to You, trust You, receive You, believing in Your name. My Lord and God, Jesus Christ — what a wonder You are!

God’s amazing and limitless offer

A relative dies and leaves a vast fortune to be divided equally among family members, all of which are poor. As you go to collect your million dollar share, you see a cousin going the other way. You say, “Haven’t you heard . . . .” and tell him about the inheritance. He says, “No, I’m not interested. Its fine for you, but not for me. I will do just fine without that.” He walks away, the gift there for the taking and with his name on it, but he leaves it untouched. 

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2)

Propitiation means ‘to win someone’s favor, to appease or conciliate somebody or something.’ In the Bible, this word is generally about “the means of appeasing wrath and gaining the good will of an offended person; especially with respect to sacrifices for appeasing angered deities” and specifically “the means by which sins are forgiven.”

In plain language, Jesus Christ is a gift from God who did what was necessary so God could forgive the sins of the whole world. However, like any gift, He must be received — in faith, believing that those sins are forgiven and that He is exactly who He claims to be — our Savior.

Faith is an important part of receiving the inheritance His death made available. Jesus said that He would go away, but would send the Holy Spirit of God . . .

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me . . . .” (John 16:8–9)

Note the connection; the sin is not all those foolish things we have done because those are now covered. The sin is not believing it! As Martin Luther once said, “We have everything we need except the faith to believe it.”

Faith is like a password. The kingdom is there and the door is open. Jesus died for the sin of the world and offers entrance to that realm and to eternal life, but without faith, it is impossible to enter.

With faith, there are no more barriers. The Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the world! He is the way, the truth, the life. But no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6) and through faith in Him. Without faith, no one can please God. With faith, all things are possible.

This is the good news. It is God’s message for all who believe it to proclaim to a world that is going the other way, a world that says things like, “That is fine for you, but I don’t need it.”

Don’t need it? Who has not sinned? Who is so deluded that they feel no desire for eternal life and the freedom of knowing total forgiveness? What a joy to be set free from guilt and condemnation!

Yet the message is not about what Christ has done for me — as wonderful as that is, but about what Christ has done for the entire world. By His death He took our punishment for sin, and by His resurrection He conquered our punishment, living forever and making a way that we might live forever with Him.

This is an offer that is limitless, only restricted by the password and by those puzzling decisions to walk the other way. 

How to inherit eternal life

A rich young man came to Jesus asking what he should do to inherit eternal life. The typical answer is “nothing” for eternal life is a gift of God by grace through faith. We cannot earn eternal life.

However, Jesus told this man to sell all he had and give it to the poor. He knew the man’s heart; he was not willing to do this so walked away. Jesus told His disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” He was not willing for a radical change.

Those who heard it wondered who could be saved, but Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And they did . . .

“And taking the twelve, he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.’” (Luke 18:31–33)

Verse 34 says they didn’t understand, but they went with Him anyway. This is the faith given by grace. It is not a foolish bravado, nor an ignorant loyalty. They had been with Jesus; they knew that He was worth any sacrifice He asked of them.

Sometimes Christians evaluate a person by their abilities and say that person would make a good Christian. This is not what God does. As long as I think there is something in me that makes me valuable to God, I am not of any value. God cannot use my virtues, as if I had any. He is interested in only one thing:

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4)

“All these things (heaven and earth) my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

Chambers says, “The comradeship of God is made up out of men who know their poverty. He can do nothing with the man who thinks that he is of use to God.”

Faith in Christ means that my faith is not in myself. Faith understands who He is (God in human flesh), and by Him, understanding who I am (a sinner) and who I am not (a hotshot).

Yesterday’s post stuck with me all day. People tell me I am smart, etc. etc. I earned good marks in the educational system and can do this thing and that, but just as the disciples didn’t understand without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, anything I know of God and spiritual truth is a gift. It has nothing to do with IQ. In fact, that and other human qualities can get in the way of both knowledge and humility.

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

Knowing God through Jesus Christ is both the key to eternal life and to wisdom . . .

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:27–31)

The rich young man did not want to be poor. The ‘wise’ do not want to be foolish, not the strong weak, just as the proud do not want to be humble or boast in someone else. Yet even coming off my perch does not save me nor grant me eternal life. I have it because Jesus chose me and brought me into a saving relationship with Himself.

God’s very life is mine

This morning’s devotional reading from Oswald Chambers is profound. I can only say amen. I wanted to copy/paste it, but in fairness to copyright law, I’ll put it in my own words. He begins with this passage about the Christian’s identification with the death and also the life of Christ . . .

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:9–11)

Then he shares a marvelous truth: Eternal life is not a copy of the life which Jesus Christ, but the same life. In other words, eternal life is not a gift from God, eternal life is the gift of God. He comes to live in those who have been reborn by His grace and power.

That power is not a gift either. The Lord Jesus said, “You shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost.” It is the Holy Spirit, not His power but the Spirit Himself imparted to us. When we get right with God, the full life of God comes in. Jesus gives those who believe in Him an endless supply of life — “that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

While we use the word ‘eternal’ eternal Life is not about time. It is about the kind of life that Jesus lived, His very life. He is the sole source of it. It is His life, in us, forever!

This life is experienced by all who believe. It is only limited by how tight I hold on to the rule of self, that old nature that persists in its resistance to the Lordship of Jesus. Yet, as Chambers says, I have to keep letting go of it, dying to it. When I do that, the great full life of God will invade every part of me. It is also possible, even likely, that others will notice that I have been with Jesus.

Oh my, what glory!

God’s Unfailing Plan

The human soul is blind to spiritual reality. The reason is sin, and the answer is faith in Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. However, if that Light is rejected, then those realities cannot be known.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19–21)

Toward the end of His time on earth, Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph and the city shouted its welcome, but the people actually preferred their god, the human pride expressed in their Pharisaical religious system. Today we might call it the religion of “I can save myself by keeping my own rules. Chambers calls them “religious and upright” yet Jesus said they were like “whitewashed tombs” which appeared beautiful, but were full of dead people’s bones and unclean. (Matthew 23:27) This is the sinner’s attitude of hating the light and refusing to come to it. Their rejection had consequences . . .

And when (Jesus) drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41–44)

The city would perish for rejecting their Messiah, even as all who love darkness and reject Him will perish.

Chambers brings that reality to my life by asking “What is it that blinds me in this my day?” He is talking about holding on to something that might even look pleasing on the outside, but it is something that rules me and makes me blind to the things that give total peace with God.

Odd thing is that if I have such a god and suffer from such blindness, how could I know it? I would be blind to it, as unseeing as the Pharisees, as unseeing as the vilest sinner who has rejected all attempts to make him see. The only ‘cure’ for this blindness is an eye-opening from the Spirit of God, a piercing of truth that goes direct to the heart.

Luke 19:41ff is the response of Jesus to a blind heart. He wept over it, yet for those people He offered no hope. They had their opportunity. God appeared to them in human flesh and they said no, rejecting His rule over them. I don’t think this is how Jesus treats those who have said yes and who have seen His light.

I agree with Chambers in that Christians can hang fast to strange gods and that God will bring us face to face to our folly. I agree also that we often resist Him and fight truth. We can be blind to what we could enjoy if we would just abandon such vain foolishness. I also agree that God holds us responsible for what we do not see.

However, that is where the parallel ends. The Pharisees had set their course, but God never gives up on a stubborn child. Because He gave me new life in Christ and adopted me into His forever family, He sets my course and has planned my destiny. He promises that one day I will be like Jesus and that He will stay in my face until that transformation is completed. No matter how entrenched any ‘god’ or stubbornness might be, Jesus is my Savior and He saves His people from our sin.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:6–10)

Chambers says “But now they are hidden from your eyes” — yet I do not believe that. Once Jesus gives light into a stubborn heart, we know it. God might close doors because of it, but He never stops His relentless discipline. My stubborn heart cannot alter the fact that I am His child. He loves me with an everlasting love. Regardless of any silly choices I make, my course is set. I am saved by grace and bound for eternity with Him. No matter what, His changeless plan without a doubt will change my life.