http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/En02JC-EternalThings.html
(Hebrews 13:8).
What unseen things are eternal?
“We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2
Corinthians 4:18).
There is a physical realm and a spiritual realm. The physical
realm is finite. The universe had a beginning and will have an end.
The spiritual realm is infinite.
Science deals with the physical realm. Philosophy and religion
deal with the spiritual realm.
Philosophically, if something exists now, something must have
always existed. According to scientific observations, the physical
realm has not always existed. Thus, it must be something spiritual
that has always existed.
Intelligence is the most exalted phenomenon we observe. The
intelligence of one person is more amazing than all the physical
things of the universe combined. Thus to conclude that an
intelligent, Spiritual Being has always existed, is logical and
consistent with scientific observations and philosophical principles.
Paul's statement that “the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2
Corinthians 4:18) is scientifically and philosophically sound.
What unseen things are eternal? First, and foremost:
God is eternal.
Moses was raised by Pharaoh's daughter and had access to all
the wealth of Egypt. Yet, beyond the vanity of visible things, he saw
the Unseen God: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused
to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures
of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing
Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:24-27).
How could Moses 'see' the unseen God? The same way all
men and women of faith are conscious of God's presence. God has
made Himself known. Paul explains: “What may be known of God is
manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the
creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power
and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although
they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful”
(Romans 1:19-21).
The story is told of an atheist who sneeringly asked a little girl
if she believed in God. When she replied that she did, he said: “I'll
give you a euro if you can show me where God is.” She replied,
“Sir, I'll give you 5 euros if you can show me where God isn't!”
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of
His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3).
God is self-existent, He always has existed and always shall exist.
When God told Moses to rescue His people from Egypt, Moses
asked: “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The
God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What
is His name?' what shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, 'I
AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of
Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”'” (Exodus 3:13, 14).
The one true God does not need a proper name to distinguish
Him from other gods. He is God. He is the Lord. He is 'I AM', Infinite
Being.
Among the people of Israel this became a sacred designation
for God. The Hebrew word, sometimes transliterated as Jehovah or
Jaweh, is called the Tetragrammaton because it consists of four
consonants. Ancient written Hebrew did not include vowels. The
vowels had to be inserted mentally when the text was read. Thus,
many written words could have different meanings depending on
which vowels were added.
I once asked a rabbi why Jews do not pronounce the
Tetragrammaton. His explanation was that the written word could
mean 'I am', 'I was' and 'I shall be' depending on the vowels added.
Thus, to pronounce the word would limit its meaning.
This designation for God appears more than 6000 times in the
Old Testament. When the text was read aloud, however, the word
for 'Lord' was read. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the New Testament
writers used the Greek word for 'Lord' to translate Old Testament
quotations containing the Tetragrammaton except in a few
instances where the Greek word for 'God' appears.
Jesus is I AM.
When the writer of Hebrews says: “Jesus Christ is the same,
yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), he is ascribing this
trait to Christ.
That Jesus is the same, relates to what is said of God in the
Psalms: “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the
heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will
endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You
will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same,
and Your years will have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27).
This Psalm is addressed to God (verse 24). The designation
'Jehovah' is used seven times (in verses 1, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19 and
22). God does not change. With the “Father of lights” “there is no
variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:16). “For I am the Lord, I
do not change” (Malachi 3:6).
In Hebrews 13 it says that Jesus Christ is always the same. In
Hebrews, chapter 1, Psalm 102 is applied to Christ (preceded by
Psalm 45:6, 7).
“But to the Son He says:
'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.'
And:
'You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail'” (Hebrews 1:8-12).
This text proclaims the deity, eternity and changelessness of
Christ.
The immutability of Christ is contrasted with the continually
changing universe that will pass away. Jesus said: “Heaven and
earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”
(Matthew 24:35).
“They will perish, but You remain. . They will be changed, but
You are the same” (Psalm 102:26, 27). “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer,
the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me
there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). The two words 'LORD' in this verse
are translations of the Tetragrammaton. The I AM is the first and
the last.
In Isaiah 48 the Lord says: “I am He, I am the First, I am also
the Last” (Verse 12).
In the Revelation to John, Jesus says: “Do not be afraid; I am
the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:17, 18). “I am the
Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the
Last” (Revelation 22:13). Thus, the designation, the First and the
Last (which can only apply to God, the I AM) also applies to Christ.
Jesus told the unbelieving Jews: “Most assuredly, I say to
you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). If Jesus had said 'I
was' He would have only stated that He existed before Abraham. By
saying “Before Abraham was, I AM” He declares Himself to be
Jehovah.
“We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2
Corinthians 4:18).
We endure as seeing Him who is invisible.
God is eternal, He is I AM. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is
also I AM with the Father. “In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “Jesus
Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8).
“The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the
earth, neither faints nor is weary” (Isaiah 40:28). “Now to the King
eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and
glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc.,
Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment