What happened in eternity past is a little discussed subject. Few recognize the extraordinary results that comes from understanding this truth.

God is Now

Moses asked God for His name. The reply is in some ways a mystery – I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:14. It is the only answer God could give him.

God is eternal, beyond time, space and matter. Past present and future are always present to God who ever dwells in the generous present moment.

Taking hold of this concept is to begin to understand the mind of God. Unbelievers wrongly judge God from their human point of view.

Unchanging

God is unchanging and continually present. He is ever active and reveals Himself in the ‘Now’. You cannot:

• Worship God yesterday – for yesterday is gone
• Know the unknown future that is coming toward you.

God redeems time by healing the past and inhabits the future. God dwells in eternity – we live inside the unfolding river of time. Existing outside of time He fills every moment of time with His presence. He is not:

• Distant
• Delayed
• Absent from reality.

Immense Value of Now

Understanding God as being ‘Now’ establishes your identity in Him and changes your perception of everything. As a follower of Christ your citizenship/identity is heavenly. It’s the real you.

God fills the present by making us aware of His presence through:

• Fellowshipping – covenantal relationship
• Transforming us into the image of Christ
• Protecting His chosen ones – His authority.

Kingdom at Hand

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is at hand, Matthew 3:2. The now God breaking into human experience – foreordained in eternity past. 

• The kingdom of God is in your midst, Luke 17:21
• Born again people are a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Father Son and Holy Spirit will come to him and make Our abode in him, John 14:23
• That they may be one just as We are one. I in them and You in Me, John 17:23.

The kingdom of God is not past or future – it is Now.

Seated in Heavenly Places

When we were dead in our transgression, He made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:5,6. When we comprehend eternity past we realize God has an eternal plan for us.

Saving mankind was not Plan B when Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3. God knew what Adam would do before He created him, for He knows the end from before the beginning, Isaiah 46:10.

The Son of God became the Son of Man and dwelt among men, John 1:14, to fulfil the fore-ordained word of God. He is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:9, and the focal point of heaven, Revelation 5:6. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin, Hebrews 9:22. Only the sinless Lamb of God could pay the cost of redeeming sinners.

Predestination

Predestination, as Paul describes it, Ephesians 1:4,5, is not that we have no free will. Every person who has ever lived or will live, has the choice to accept or reject God’s great gift of salvation, Romans 6:23 – All will be without excuse, Romans 1:20. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:3, because He fore-knows the last decision we will make before we leave this earth.

Time is the opportunity for us to grow into the stature of the fullness that belongs to Christ, Ephesians 4:13. The place to be fitted for eternal habitation with God – therefore do not be surprised at fiery trials that come upon you, 1 Peter 4:12.

Only those whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world will worship the Antichrist, Revelation 17:8. Those who refuse to accept Christ died for their sins, their name will not be written in the book of life.

Many Books

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, and books were opened, Revelation 20:12. Note the plural – books. And another book was opened which is the book of life, written before the foundation of the world, Revelation 17:8. God is unchanging, Malachi 3:6, so it seems that the other books were also written in eternity past. Therefore, everyone’s name is written in a book in the eternity past – either to eternal life with God, or be eternally out of His presence.

The dead are judged from the things which are written in the books according to their deeds, Revelation 20:12. The destination of their name is decided by whether or not they receive Christ as their Saviour. Only God knows where a person’s name is written – because He is outside time space and matter.

The saints of God go before the great white throne for reward not judgement, 2 Timothy 4:8. Rewards that were appointed before the foundation of the world for God is ever ‘Now’. We are already standing before Him.

Not Erase the Name

Looking at the value of eternity past is to consider the full counsel of God and the context of any piece of scripture. Scripture interprets scripture – always by two or three witnesses, Deuteronomy 19:5.

He who overcomes…I will not erase his name from the book of life, Revelation 3:5. Does that mean God can change His mind? Never. God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent, Numbers 23:19. Once the name is written in eternity past it remains where it is placed. You can backslide from a commitment. 

In the case of those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and powers of the age to come, and then fallen away, it is impossible to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame, Hebrews 6:4,5.

Apostate

An apostate is one who formally disassociates himself from a former belief. Like a vehicle going in one direction, does a U-turn, and retreats. It is still a car – but going in the opposite direction.

Jesus referred to apostate people as worthless branches of the vine only fit for destruction, John 15:6. They are those who only have the appearance of being a follower but not committed to follow – no matter what happens.

A person who is truly born again cannot be reborn again. Having begun a course and pulled out, does not mean you can begin the course again – you can only continue the course. You are either born again and sealed with the promise – the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13, or you are not. Only God knows the heart.

More of What Happened in Eternity Past

Understanding what happened in eternity past is such an important subject, it changes how we:

• See the heart of God
• See ourself through a new lens
• Know  that God dwells beyond time with an eternal plan
•  Understand the purpose of time – time to mature into the image of Christ
• Know that time is limited
•  Comprehend what is reality
• Know that God changes not.

Therefore, it is necessary to write Part 2 for a deeper look at what happened in eternity past – we are headed toward eternity for we were created for eternity.

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Dr. Wendy is a servant of the Lord who lives to share words of encouragement from the Word of God in these end of time days.

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