You have probably noticed that most discussions about the Son of God focus on His precious earthly ministry and His eagerly awaited return to usher in a new and glorious era of life to those Who believe on Him. However, just as important and equally amazing is the story of His existence, His credentials and authority which did not just suddenly happen on the day He was born some 2,000 years ago. The archives of eternity record that Jesus was not only sent to earth as a result of God’s great love for us, but He was with God and was a part of God from the very beginning of all things and intimately involved in the creation of all things. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1: 16-17)
But it goes deeper than this because Jesus was here not only from the "beginning", but from eternity. I want to highlight the term “beginning” to bring attention to the fact that our carnal minds find it difficult to truly grasp the concept of eternity. That is, no beginning and no ending. But this is just one of the many magnificent and incomprehensible aspects of Jesus’ essence and existence that, by faith, we certify to be undeniably accurate. But though our temporal consciousness colludes with a corrupt world that may hesitate or won't accept His actuality and/or perpetuity, our beloved souls are compelling witnesses to the revealed truth. And this is because the most important part of who we are, which is our soul, was created by God and belong to God and is aware of God. “Behold, all souls are mine.” (Ezekiel 18: 4)
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22: 13) Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, used here to describe the comprehensiveness of God, implying that He as God includes all that can be, and there is nothing before or after Him. The prophet Isaiah stated, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44: 6) Prior to Isaiah’s extraordinary proclamation, even an adoring psalmist wrote the following song of praise, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” (Psalm 90: 2) He was confirming that before the world was even made God was here. And even our simple intellect can understand that before you are able to make something you have to already be something. Or in other words, you have to already exist.
God confirms this by referring to Himself in eternal, all-encompassing terms while conversing with Moses when He was delivering Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt: “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3: 13-14) Scholars have concluded that the term “I AM THAT I AM” basically means; “I am Who I am, I am He Who is, I am He Who exists, I am He Who is what He chooses to be.” Our incredible, gracious, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever present God is self-sufficient, self-existent and strikingly sensational beyond our wildest dreams and He cannot be contained or defined by time, space, distance or dimension!
Oh yes, just talking about the Lord gets you all stirred up with joy! And there's more because the Bible has further descriptions of Jesus’ presence with God before the creation of the world. So let’s examine those through scripture. Genesis 1: 1 tells us, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” During this period as God wonderfully creates all things, including the time period called days, He said something very interesting on the 6th day: “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” (Genesis 1: 24) Who was God talking about and Who was He talking to? Who was it that was with Him in the beginning when this physical universe was created? The Apostle John explains it simply and directly, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with 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,) full of grace and truth. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1: 1-3) And to Whom was He referring when He spoke of grace and truth? “…but grace and truth came by Jesus.” (John 1: 17) According to God's holy Word and the blessed assurance within us, I believe we can confidently conclude that the “Who” we are talking about is the same One Who said "I and my Father are one." (John 10: 30) And that One is none other than Jesus “and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19: 13)
The prophet Micah forecast to the Jewish nation the good news about the eternal divinity of a coming Savior when he reported the following message from God, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5: 2) Centuries later Jesus Himself spoke of His own immortal and timeless nature when He taught in the temple, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8: 56-58) And as He was preparing to be crucified for the sins of all mankind, Jesus prayed to His father in a most glorious and selfless act of endless love, saying, “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17: 5 & 24)
If you’re not excited yet, I delightfully present to you these passages from the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 8, which chronicles a moving and beautifully touching spiritual relationship between the Father and the Son in the realm of timelessness:
[22] The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. [23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. [24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. [25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: [26] While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. [27] When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: [28] When He established the clouds above : when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: [29] When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: [30] Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; [31] Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of Men. [32] Now therefore hearken unto Me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep My ways. [33] Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. [34] Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. [35] For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. [36] But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death.
And so, dear ones, knowing that Jesus was with the Father before time began and will be there when time is no more, we can be assured that not only is He uniquely qualified to be our Lord and Savior, but always has been and always will be. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31: 3) What a blessing it is to know that we can confidently put our hope and trust in Him as the world’s Deliverer sent by God Himself because of the great love that He has for us all. “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children” (Psalm 103: 17) May we be found continually “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2) And may we also always be found giving honor, praise, glory and blessing to our heavenly Father because “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” (Deuteronomy 33: 27)
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 106: 48)
P.S. Here is a little bit of "old school" from one of my Mom and Dad's favorite gospel artists back in the day. Brings back some really precious memories for me and maybe for you as well.
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