“THE days of our years are threescore years and ten,” and few they are at that! Beyond it we live on what is called borrowed time. “All the days of Methuselah” (and he was the longest liver on record) “were nine hundred, sixty and nine years, and he died.” That was very long for a man to live and yet, perhaps, at its close his life appeared short to him.
When we think of eternity, time is very short.
Yes, but we can only think of eternity; we can never understand it! How can a finite mind―and the mind of man is finite―conceive the meaning of “forever”? It baffles the conception of the greatest intellect, and must do so. We may conceive a life of seventy years, or one of nine hundred, sixty and nine years, but not one of eternity! That is beyond all our powers.
And yet we read: “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity.” That is God! It is well often to turn our thoughts to God.
He is gracious. He is full of compassion. He is holy and true. He is infinitely great. His life is eternal. He is called “the eternal God.”
As the high and lofty One He inhabits eternity―a wonderful statement truly!
Would you believe it, the word “eternity” occurs nowhere else in the text of our dear old English Bible? It is found in the marginal reading here and there, but in the text in this place only (Isa. 57:1515For 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. (Isaiah 57:15)). There is, in very many places, that which signifies the same thing, but the actual word is here alone.
God inhabits eternity. As long as eternity, so long is the life of God. It is therefore without beginning, and without end―to man absolutely incomprehensible! “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God!”
What a God He must be!
When Moses was charged to carry the divine message of deliverance to the children of Israel in Egypt, he asked God by what name he should make Him known to that people. God said to him: “I am that I am;” and again: “I am hath sent me unto you.”
“I AM!” “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations!” (Ex. 3:14,1514And 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. 15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. (Exodus 3:14‑15)).
Mark that name. It is not “I was,” nor “I will be,” but “I AM.”
Can you conceive such a name? Impossible! Nay, but you can allow its infinitude to leave an impression on your finite mind. We are elevated mentally as well as morally by that which is above and beyond us. We are saved and sanctified by a true knowledge of God.
But these are all scriptures in the Old Testament Are there none in the new which speak of His eternity?
Yes, notice, “Before Abraham was, I am” (Join 8:58).
The “I am” of the Exodus is the “I am” of the Gospel of John.
In the former case He appeared in a flame of fire as He spake to Moses; in the latter He appeared in the lowly garb of sinless humanity, and spoke to guilty men of a liberty, the best and truest, which they have who are made free by the Son!
He was the Son of God incarnate, sent of the Father to be the Saviour of the world, and here the light of the world, so that His followers should not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.
He is the Word who was in the beginning, and who was, therefore, before it, before Abraham, before time, and the “I am” of eternity!
And because of His incarnation, His death, and His resurrection, He can take up the case of sinful men, and give them life and forgiveness.
Wonderful to think of Him who inhabits eternity, being found in fashion as man, lying in a manger, nailed to a cross, buried in a tomb, but now risen and ascended, and, thank God, a Saviour!
The eternal God is a Saviour God, because salvation is the combined and glorious work of Father, Son, and Spirit—the Godhead—and is therefore a perfect salvation, the neglect of which is the greatest crime that mortal man can commit.
How lovely the word: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:2727The 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. (Deuteronomy 33:27)). What magnitudes―a refuge, how secure, and arms, how strong! So that God, in His eternity, was, and is, and ever will be, the refuge and strength of His distressed and afflicted people.
Turn to this shelter and lay thee down, dear trembling heart, on these everlasting arms, on the mighty compassion of Him who makes the prodigal welcome, and who comforts the poor, broken heart, and the humble and contrite spirit.
J. W. S.