People enjoy living in the past. Sometimes it’s easier than moving ahead. We can get comfortable within the past in areas that suit us. We can avoid pain, frightful moments, and the unseen. Staying in the past doesn’t help us in the present or the future if we can’t face them. When embracing the ‘now and here,” we can refer to the past if there are helpful insights for guidance.
Jesus lived in the past…present, and future all at once. He’s not limited by time. He’s the I AM. Always NOW.
He made a comment to the religious leaders of His day that shocked their socks off. Their words, to be sung millennials later, by Jean Knight in Mr. Big Stuff, are echoed at the close of their discussion below. Follow this conversation He had with them:
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever obeys my word, will never see death. At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Since they didn’t believe He was God in the flesh present before their very eyes, they missed everything He was trying to show them. Here’s the clincher:
“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day, he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you, “Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:51,52,53, 56,57,58)!
That’s when they picked up stones to end His life, but He escaped.
To be crazy, He would have had to say, “Before Abraham was born, I was.” But He didn’t! The Great I AM was in their midst and they missed Him. He was in the past with Abraham as well as in the present with them. He’s eternal, knows no limits. He’s always in the present and able to weave in and out between time and space as we know it.
God had made a promise to Abraham that seems to be incomplete in scripture. After asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham said God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice in Isaac’s stead (Genesis 22:8). God, however, provided a ram. It is believed that God showed Abraham the future revealing the Lamb of God; Jesus, laying down His life for humanity; thus, providing the Lamb which was slain from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Look to the future!
You’ll live forever!
Sam