Revelation 4:8 “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Holy, Holy, Holy….this is the cry of the seraphim before God’s throne. The three cries representing the triune God, co-equal, co-eternal, and deserving of all praise. The call didn’t stop with God’s position, but it continues with a revelation.
Who Was…Who Is, and Who Is to come.
Matthew 16:17 “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.”
The revelation of God’s nature is as vast as God is great. Look at Creation through the lens of a microscope and you will see the magnitude of God’s glory with the same awe as when you gaze deep into the stars.
There are hints to God’s majesty everywhere, look through the Word of God and the deeper you peer, the more you see of His excellence.
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is-understanding”
Who Was
The epic nature of God is what redefines the term epic. When we consider the legacy of God’s hand, it extends into a timeless past. The exploits of God’s faithfulness extend to the beginning of mankind’s existence and far, far, before that. Imagine being that first person, walking with Jesus in the morning, being taught personally by God and witnessing His glory everywhere you turn.
Psalm 106:48 “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!
One thing we can be sure of in a world of uncertainty—the nature of God and how He has revealed Himself to us was and is the same before mankind ever lived in this universe. His power has always been displayed, His creative nature has consistently been made manifest, and no detail is too small to consider or display of His power so great that we can’t appreciate His genius.
From Everlasting to Everlasting—-He has always been.
Who Is
Exodus 3:14 “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.’ ”
The eternal God does not relegate Himself to His past accomplishments nor does He bring up the past as a means to prove His worth——He is present now and with each step reestablishes His sovereignty.
If we question His goodness, it doesn’t take long to see it again. If we doubt His faithfulness, look, and you will see He has never relinquished His promises. He is faithful, kind, generous, and abounding in Love….He is and remains steadfast and True.
Isaiah 45:22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
The purity of God is another attribute that cannot be overlooked.
Anything corrupt is likewise defective. The state of corruption is one of a sinful demise. Spoil one egg in a basket and it wont not take long to smell the corruption that has taken place and know which one is bad.
The imperfect qualities of mankind are like a stench before a Just and Holy God. Our sin is like rottenness to our bones, we have become a twisted form of God’s original design.
Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
Why does God hate fear and doubt? Why is the imperfection of sin such an affront? Why are all liars committed to the fires of Hell? Why is injustice towards our fellow man such a rebuke of God’s goodness?
Every aspect of God’s nature is violated in all mankind represents in sinful flesh.
God is Good. Nothing we have or can do is good. All that the world can give is the stench of death, and yet He walks with us today. He has never left us, it was our sin that separated us from Him. When acceptance of Christ comes upon the believer, the relationship is reestablished, the morning walks can continue and He still instructs His people today.
Who is to Come
Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
The manner in which Christ will return will not be what many expect. The message of love and acceptance has been overshadowed by the prospect that people can live like they want simply because God loves them. Not only has this mantra led many to destruction, it has devastated the church. Divorce within the church is at an all time high, sexual sin is exploding, and the lack of foundational values is driving many of the youth away in numbers that are troubling.
When Jesus returns, it will not be as the suffering servant as He did before, but as a mighty warrior who establishes His throne, His rule, and His rightful place upon HIS creation.
Luke 21:25-27 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
The glory that the world cannot see now, will be witnessed by all. The power that people have witnessed in creation will be embodied within the coming Messiah.
For those who anxiously await His arrival, the King will come. His command is to watch and be ready, we do not know the day nor the hour of His return. Jesus gave examples that reflected His outlook toward His people; the bride who awaits the bridegroom by keeping her lamp lit, the bridegroom preparing His house to eventually return, the parable of the talents and the wise and foolish servants….the promise of Christ’s return has been made quite emphatically and the Lord is not slow in keeping His promises.
The days can be darkest before the dawn and this past year has certainly filled that criteria. The dawn of the end of the church age is just about to break.
If you’ve been waiting to get serious about your relationship with Christ, now is the time to take it into strong consideration. When that glorious day arrives, you will find that this world will be but a faint memory compared to all that will unfold in your future.
One day, His people will walk again in His garden, in purity and devotion. He will instruct them, teach them in wisdom and His perfect love will once again not be limited in its expression. We will be made perfect, holy, and righteousness will flow like a river across the land.
Just wait….it’s going to be good!
U.T. 