God is not locked in time and space as we are. Time is as much a part of creation as the earth, you and I. But if we overlook this crucial fact, we can easily think of God in time restraints.
After all the struggle Job went through, God now speaks with patient Job. He said in Job 38.1-11– “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?”
Time has no impact on God at all. He literally has all the time in the world, or rather out of the world as well. He is not hurried by time nor held hostage to it. Past, present, and future are laid out before God like a panorama—He sees the beginning and the end. In fact, He is the Beginning and the End! And nothing between first and last escapes being affected by God’s sovereignty.
A little more Scripture may help on this important matter. In Isaiah 46.9-10 it says from God’s own lips again– “Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” How about hearing from King David on the matter, which is also inspired by God– “Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90.2,4)
It strains both our minds and our language to grasp God’s timelessness. It’s hard to completely comprehend. Peter said to believers in the first century, that he didn’t want them to be ignorant of this fact. It must matter– “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3.8)
So that means from God’s perspective, Jesus died and rose from the dead two days ago. Creation was last week. Mind blowing isn’t it. But apparently it is vital for us to understand that God is God and I am not. Time with God is nothing. And so He is able to focus completely, ever and always, on His one singular agenda. God is not locked in time as we are. He has never varied His agenda. He’s never doubted it. When God says, I will do all my pleasure He means it. God has never laid awake at night thinking, ‘I hope this will all work out’… not at all! God already knows how it all turns out. That’s why, when it comes to God and time, it’s always a good time to trust Him.
We are not God. We are not even a good mimic of Him. He is in control and I cannot even comprehend it all. But I know He is over all and not controlled by anything or anyone. We lack patience. We lack the ability to know the end from the beginning. We lack. That’s the point isn’t it? We are not able. We desperately need to trust God.
One thought on “God and Time”
It’s awesome that God was holding together the universe as He was in Mary’s womb, talking as a young man in the temple, teaching His disciples, dying on the cross for our sins, being buried in the grave, and rising from the dead. If God has all that in His hands, He certainly has me! Amen!