His Eternality

Tonight, I want to help you understand the eternality of God. And if you come to grips with the fact that God is from everlasting to everlasting, it will get you through this new year and every subsequent year. That follows. We need to understand the eternality of God. Over in Psalm 90, Moses was near the end of his life. And he became impress with the brevity of life and found himself finding comfort in this one truth about God: that he was eternal. It says in Psalm 90, verses 1 and 2, these words, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were born, or thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting To everlasting, thou art God.

Moses grew or drew great comfort from the fact that God was eternal. Tonight, we want to answer two questions. Number one, what does it mean that God is eternal?

And number two, what difference does it make that God is? Eternal. We somehow need to understand the eternality of God. And once we understand it, we need to ask the question: okay, what difference does it make for my life today? that God is self-existent, that God has always existed because God is eternal in nature. So let's begin with question number one.

What does it mean that God is eternal? If you were to ask me the definition of eternity, I would define it this way. Eternity is defined. In a Little League baseball game. Now, I don't know how many of you have got kids in Little League Baseball, but to me, that is a definition of eternity. Those games go on and on and on and on and on and on, and they're not going any further. They just never end. We pray that somehow those games are going to end, especially on those cold, windy evenings. But that's not eternity.

We think eternity is sitting in traffic on the way home from work like we've been there for an eternity We don't understand the eternal nature of our God. So to understand His eternal nature, it means at least two things. Number one, God has no beginning and no end.

And number two, God cannot be measured or controlled by time. Because God creates time, He is beyond and before the parameters of time. God is not controlled by the sequence of events. God doesn't wear a watch, God doesn't have a calendar. God doesn't have a calendar up in heaven saying, okay, now this is the date I'm going to return, okay? So all the angels are able to look at it and see what's going to happen, and they can mark off the days.

God doesn't operate in terms of a calendar. God doesn't have a big clock in the sky that somehow tells him what time it is whenever he needs to know what time it is. Now, people like you and me, we have a hard time with that, don't we? We have to have a watch. We have to have a day timer. We have to have a schedule. We've got to begin church on time and you better make sure we end church on time because we are controlled by those parameters. We would not know what to do if there was not, quote, time.

We would not know what to do if there wasn't a calendar to tell us where we had to be. We would not know what to do if we didn't have a watch to tell us where and when to be and at what time to be there. But God doesn't have those things. Why? Doesn't need them. He is eternal in nature. So, how do we explain this? What does it mean that God is eternal? It means, number one, this, that God ex before time.

The words is Genesis chapter 1. Verse number one. What does it say? In the beginning, which is a word of time, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. So, whenever that happened, we must understand that God was already there. Because in the beginning, God. God is self-existent. When you talk of the eternal nature of God, you're talking of the fact that He is self-existent. That is, there was nothing that caused him to exist. He's just always existed. In fact, a good verse for that is John 5, verse number 26, where Jesus said, For just as the Father has life in him, Even so, he gave to the Son also to have life in him.

An eternal being is self-existent. We have a hard time with that. We have a hard time comprehending that whole aspect. If God was created, that means there was somebody before God to create God, and we have to go back and ask the same question. What is the origin of life? What began everything? Well, the answer is God began everything. And so the question comes: well, what began God? Answer? God always was because God always is. God's always been there. He is self-existent. He is eternal in nature.

In fact, if you read down in Genesis chapter 1, down to verse number 14, that's when time was created. It says that. God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. There is the creation of time. God knew that we. were finite beings and God knew that the only way that we could function was to have seasons and ages and times because we would not be able to function without them but God does not Need them.

It all starts with God because God exist before time. Number two. This is great. God exists in the past, the present, and the future. All at the same time. The verse, John 8:5. You know, the verse. There was a great discussion between Christ and the religious leaders about who he was. How he told them that he was with Abraham, and they said, Well, that can't happen. I mean, you're not even 50 years old yet. Abraham existed hundreds of years ago. And what did Christ say? Before Abraham was, I am. He didn't say I was.

Before Abraham was, I was. I mean, that would make him really, really old. Okay? He just said, Before Abraham was, I am. That's a remarkable statement. Let me see if I can explain it to you.

That means that at this very moment God exists. And at the same time he exists now, he exists at the time of Abraham. And at the same time, he exists in the future. Because that's who God is. Illustration: Book of Revelation, Island of Petl. John receives the future. In a vision, God takes him to what's all that's going to happen. Why? Because God is already there. God doesn't just plan the future. Wait for it to come, God is already in the future, as well as in the past, as well as in the present.

That's why the book of Revelation is in such great detail. Because John was able to see what God has already planned and already orchestrated in eternity past. Because God is I am. It says in Revelation chapter 4, verse number 8: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. So, God is all those things. God was, God is, and God is to come because God exists in all of that. You see, we have a hard time comprehending that because of our time schedule. Number three, God is not limited by time.

Verse Isaiah chapter 57. Isaiah 57, verse number 15 says what? These words. For thus says the high and exalted one, who lives forever, whose name is holy, I dwell on a high and holy place. And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. God ex above everything else. He is a high, holy, exalted one. Psalm 90, verse number 4 says this, For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the nights.

2 Peter 3:8 says, With the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day. So, what's going to happen the year 2000 by everybody in America is fearful, not everybody, because we're not, but most everybody else is fearful about what's going to happen next year. God knows. God's been there because God is there. See? He exists out of time. And for us, because He knows our tomorrows, because He knows our yesterdays, He gives us great perspective on the future. He wants us to trust him and lean on him.

Number four, God is the author of time. God is the author of time. Turn with me over to Hebrews chapter 1.

Verse number two says this, in these last days has spoken to us in his son, whom he appointed heir of all things.

Through whom also he made the world. Now, the world, the word used there is not cosmos, which speaks of the material existence of the world. It's I, which speaks of space and time and energy and matter. God is the author of time. Isaiah 9: calls him the everlasting father or the originator of eternity, the author of Eternity. Time has been designed and controlled by God. Now, think about that for a moment. That means that there are no accidents and there are no coincidences. There are only appointments.

Think about it. God is the author of time. God has planned everything and established everything in eternity past. Let's move on. E number five, God is controlling time. God exists outside of time, God is the author of time, yet God controls time. Thomas Jefferson. We all know him well. Not personally, but we know of the man. And he was quite instrumental in the development of government and politics here in America. And yet his view of God was skewed. Because he was a deist. He believed that what God did is that after he created everything, he just kind of wound it up and let it run its course.

And God had no control over the events of the world, nor was He intimately involved in the things of the world. Mr. Jefferson didn't know God very well. The Bible, however, teaches the opposite. God is controlling time. God is controlling the sequence of events, and God controls the days of man's life. Psalm 139, verse number 16: God sees your unformed substance. And as he sees your unformed substance, the Bible says that every one of your days has been already orchestrated, already established.

Already been written. It's all been mapped out because that's the way God is. Now, according to Hebrews 9, 27, it says, it is appointed to man once to die, and after that, the judgment. That verse tells you that whenever you die, it's never an accident. Whenever you die, it's never too early. You always d on time. Think about it. Because you always die on God's time. God says, is appointed in the man wants to die.

We say, the baby was taken too early. He had all of his life before him. Why were they taking such at such a young age? Or they were just newly married. They were just getting ready to start their life. It was just not the right time. Who said? You? God said, it's time. You don't die by accident, you die by appointment. So, whenever you go to a funeral, you understand Hebrews 9:2. It is appointed that a man wants to die. After that comes the judgment. The important thing is not whether you live or whether you die.

The important thing is, are you ready to die? I'm ready to die. Are you ready to die? In fact, I is this on tape? Okay, I'll stop right there. I don't want my wife to hear this. I'm ready to die. I hope you're ready. You're going to the boy who loved to hear the clock chime, you know, and he loved to hear the chiming of the clock, especially when it was around 12 o'clock at night or 12 o'clock in the afternoon. So he would sit and listen to the clock. Excuse me, as he to the clock, it would go bo bong.

I guess it 's a chime, whatever it did, you know. And it went on, and all of a sudden, the mechanism in the clock broke. And it went 13, 14, it just kept going on. And the boy said, Mom, Mom, it's later than it's ever been before. The point of the matter is this. We are closer to death today than we were yesterday. It's later than it's ever been before. The question is not whether you're going to live or whether you die. The question is: are you ready to die? I'm ready to die. I'm ready to meet the Lord.

I know where I'm going when I die. Death is a doorway to real life. Death is a doorway to reality. Death is a doorway for every man to face his ultimate destiny. Are you ready to die? Because God Himself controls time. Hopefully, you'll understand more of the eternality of God. You say, well, you know, we've got a lot of verses. Got a lot of facts and figures, and said a lot of things I didn't quite understand, and I'm not sure I agree with him anyway. But what's your second point?

Well, the second point is: what difference does it make? And this is really good because this is really applicable to you. Tonight, if you're a sinner, that means you're living in your sin. You've not been saved by God. God's eternality has grave consequences for your life. If you're a believer, the Bible calls you a saint. The consequences of God's eternal nature have great blessings for your life. Let's look at them together.

First of all, there's bad news for the sinner, and that is, you will be lost forever. Turn me over to Romans chapter 1 for a moment. Romans chapter 1, verse number 20. You know the verse very well. For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, his eternal power. And divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Now creation doesn't reveal everything about God, but one thing should be obvious, that whoever made the world exist before it was made.

Therefore it had to be an eternal being. Now note this Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse number 11 says that God has put eternity in the hearts of man. Therefore, man is without excuse. Because the one who is eternal put eternity in the hearts of man so that when man looked at creation, he would see the eternal power of God. Therefore, man is without excuse. I don't care where you live. I don't care what island you grew up on and never heard the gospel. The Bible says, Because eternity has been set in the heart of man by eternal God, you are able to see the eternal power of God, therefore, you are without.

Excuse. See that? Pretty clear, isn't it? Pretty clear to me. The most serious fact for the unbeliever is knowing that if he doesn't understand this. His consequences will then be eternal consequences. Turn with me over to Matthew 25.

Matthew 25, verse number 46. Christ talks about the end of the age. when he sets the goats on one side and the sheep on the other. It talks about the everlasting destruction that comes upon those who do not follow the Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse number 46, and these will go away into eternal punishment. but the righteous into eter life. You see, some people think that the only trouble they're going to experience is in this life. God's got news for them. No, the trouble you have in this life is nothing compared to the eternal consequences you will face in the life hereafter.

And what are those consequences? Well, turn over to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1, listen to what the Lord says through the pen of Paul. 2 Thessalonians 1, verses 7 and 9. To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, and these will pay the penalty of what Eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day.

The bad news for the sinner is that they will be lost forever. If you are here tonight. I just want to ask you, do you know the eternal God of the universe? Have you given your life to Him? Do you have eternal life? Do you know that when death comes knocking at the door, your appointed time comes? Do you know for certain? That you're going to spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can know for sure. The Bible states it. That's the security of the believer. Don't leave tonight unless you know that because you'll be lost forever.

But for those of us who are saints, for those of us who are believers, You are loved forever. And I want you to notice a couple of things with me this evening.

Two to be exact. One is this. If you're a believer tonight, to understand the eternal nature of God is to give you great security. Great security. It says in the book of John, excuse me, the fifth chapter. 24th verse, these words. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. And does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life. Eternal life is the present position of every belie. And that eternal life is more than longevity. That eternal life is the quality life that's based in an eternal God who secures your life.

In this new year, you need security. Because your bank's not going to give it to you. Your marriage ain't going to give it to you. But God's going to give it to you. Because He is your eternal refuge. He is your protector. But the second thing I want you to see as a blessing for those who are loved forever is that not only does he give you security, he gives you strength.

He gives you strength. Turn with me over to Isaiah chapter 40. Verse number 28. It asks a question from the nation of Israel about God and where He is. Why does he do what he does? We all ask those questions. God, where are you? Did you forget about me? We don't understand the eternal nature of God. That he's always existed and he always will exist. And he exists in the past, present, and future. All at the same time. Because that's our God. You know the words very clearly. Verse number 28. Do you not know?

Have you not heard? The ever God. Now, Prophet Isaiah, what's he do? Whenever people have a problem with what's happening in their life. You've got to go back to the character of God. That's why this study is so important. That's why this study is the most important study this church has ever done or will ever do. Every other study outside of this one pales in comparison. Why? Because if you don't know the character of God Then this year will be miserable for you. If you don't understand the character of God, your life will begin to crumble.

If you know God, not intellectual awareness. But you really have him rub off on you. Then, when death comes. Th, when disaster strikes, then when turmoil begins to rise up in your life. You can have something to hold on to because you rely upon the character of God. The everlasting God, the Lord. The Creat of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understand is ins. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, he increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.

They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become Weary. Why is that? Because our God is an everlasting God. And this year, like every other year that's already passed and every year that God will decide to give you in the future, or, may I correct that, has already decided what he's given you in the future. You will need strength from the everlasting God, the Creator, the Lord of the earth. When we get tired, the everlasting God never tires.

He never does. He is reliable. He is trustworthy. He is dependable. He will never let you down. As your pastor, I'm going to let you down. Your spouse is going to let you down. Your family members, I promise, will let you down. There's only one who never will, and that is the eternal God. Because he is the God, as Francis Schaefer said it so clearly, the God Who is there and he always will be. That's why this attribute will take you through this new year. May you understand. The eternality of our God.