The Eternal God

Sermon delivered on February 22nd, 2015

By: Pastor Greg Hocson

Text: Psalm 90

 

Introduction

Today, I want us to think about God's Eternality and I want to show from the Scripture, how practical this doctrine is.

So first, we will look what it means when we say God is eternal. Then, we will look at the implications of God's eternity. What difference should it make to us that our God is eternal?

If we really want to know God and enjoy His fellowship it would be helpful for us to understand these truths which He has revealed about Himself.

So let us think on the eternality God, what it means in theory and in practice.

 

I - The Eternal God

2: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Look back, in time, as far as you can and then look forward as far as you can, what do you find, whom do you find? The everlasting God. The eternal God. Before the mountains were brought forth, before anything existed God exists, self-existent, self-sufficent. Uncreated, independent on anything.

Paul referred to God as ...

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Let's consider first that there are three kinds of life or beings:

1. There are beings with beginning and with ending

Such as mammals, birds, fish, and insects which at death are destroyed and return to dust and that's the end of their existence.

 

2. There are beings with beginning but without ending

Such as angels, demons and men, which are eternal once they are brought into existence, they live forever.

 

3. There is a Being without beginning and without ending

This attribute is proper only to God. God is from everlasting to everlasting. He is eternal.

 

He is without beginning

2: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Everyone knows that something does not come from nothing.  Nothing cannot cause something to exist. Out of nothing, nothing comes. 

So, if there was ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. There is nothing to cause something to exist.

But things do exist. Therefore, something or somebody had to have always been in existence to cause things to exist. That ever-existing thing is what we call the eternal God. God is the uncaused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.

Who made God?

Who created God? Who designed the Designer? Where did God come from?

We have all either asked the question or have been asked it: 'Who made God?' Everything we know of, has a beginning and was caused to exist by something else. Everyone and everything began to exist and was caused to exist by their parents. But what about God? Who caused Him to exist and when?

At first glance this question, "Who made God?", seems to be logical and valid. But if you stop and think about this question, I hope you will realize that this question is really illogical. It does not make sense. It is like asking, "What does red smell like?" Red is not something you smell, so the question itself is flawed. In the same way, the question "Who made God?" is flawed, because it based on false assumption that God came from somewhere and then asks where that might be.

In the same way, God is not in the category of things that are created or caused. 

God is uncaused and uncreated — He simply exists.

Everything which has a beginning has a cause.

The universe has a beginning.

Therefore the universe has a cause.

Unlike us, God did not have a beginning. He has always existed. The universe requires a cause because it had a beginning. But God, unlike the universe, had no beginning, so He doesn't need a cause. 

God revealed Himself by the name of El Olam, which means "the everlasting God." The first time that name is mentioned in Scripture is ...

Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

When we open the first page of the Bible, we read simply, "In the beginning God." He's right there and look at what He's doing — creating the heavens and the earth. He is the great Cause of all things.

 

Colossians 1:16 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: 17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

He existed before all things and He Himself brought everything else into existence.

 

He is without ending

2: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Not only is God without beginning, He is also without ending. 

Psalm 102:11 My days are like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like grass. 12: But thou, O LORD, shalt endure forever, and thy remembrance unto all generations.

 

Psalm 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of they hands. 26: They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; like a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. 27: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Lasting or existing forever, never-ending, endless, perpetual, undying, immortal, abiding, permanent, enduring, infinite,

 

He is not bound by time

God exists outside of time. He is boundless, timeless.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

He dwells in eternity and is not subject to time. There's no such thing as past, present, and future with God.

Because we live in the dimension of time, it is impossible for us to fully understand anything that does not have a beginning and an end and is not bound by time.

The part that is truly amazing is that the Bible reflects this idea completely. The Bible shows God as being outside of time.

Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Before the great Flood people lived almost a thousand years. Adam lived for 930 years and died, Methuselah who outlived everyone else, lived 969 years and died. Though man may live to be 1000 years, yet they are but as yesterday in the sight of God.

2 Peter 3:8 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.

Between a minute and a hundred years we can establish some proportion, but between time and eternity no such proportion can be fathomed.

In God's sight a thousand years are like a single day.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10: 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:

God can see all of time at one moment. This is how God sees things, before He created one thing He knew the end even before the beginning of all things. God is the only Being who had no beginning and no ending and not bound by time.

 

II - Applications

What are the practical implications of God's eternity? What difference should it make to us that our God is eternal?

10: The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

After the great Flood, the average person lives to be seventy years, and if their strength endures, some even live to be eighty years, but even the best years are filled with pain and sorrow, soon they disappear and fly away.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2: He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Life is short and full of trouble.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour (mist), that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Life is so short that it is like a mist that is gone as soon as it exists.

There is day coming when time will no longer exist. When time no longer exist then we enter eternity. We are not like animals which when they die to go back to the earth and that's end of their existence. Though we began to exist, we will abide forever. 

Knowing this, we should pray ...

12: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

Teach us to realize the brevity of life 

Ultima forsan. 'Perhaps the last'. These words are inscribed on some clocks to indicate that the moment of death; indeed, the moment of eternal judgment, may be at hand. The wise person treats every hour as though it were his/her last.

Teach us to live as if the present one was the last; for we cannot boast of tomorrow; so that we may grow in wisdom.

The first step to number our days is to trust Him for your everlasting salvation. May God make you wise unto salvation.

All of us will live somewhere, someday forever! Do you know where you will spend eternity when you pass on from this life?

 

Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

 

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Does God's Son live in us?

Live for eternity!

For those who have eternal life. Live for eternity. 

Sometimes it is helpful to step back and view life in the light of eternity. We often become so involved in day-to-day problems and responsibilities, that we become lost in the "here and now" and don't think of eternity and the eternal truths that will outlive us.

Even as a Christian it is possible to squander ones life. Don't waste your life! We were made for eternity. Don't live for the now but for eternity. Prepare for eternity. Live your life in the light of eternity.

Take comfort in the eternal God

Psalm 90:1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

 

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Think about it, this eternal God is our dwelling place. He is the refuge of His people, and always has been; that from the eternity past to the eternity to come, He is the same - He alone is God. God is a place of refuge, and the divine Majesty as a dwelling place, in which they may rest secure for ever.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Eternity is where God dwells in. The high and lofty one who dwells in eternity, but He also dwells with those whose spirit are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.