Time is often experienced as an inescapable vehicle that carries us from birth to death; a relentless force that propels us from the present to the future. But what is ‘time’? We’ve become so familiar with our measure of time – seconds, hours, days, years – that it is easy to confuse our measures of time with time itself. Our experience of time and our measures of time might be far too narrow because they are limited by our specific point of view.
There are many interesting philosophies about time and even more interesting speculations about what the possibilities might be, if such philosophies were true. I won’t explore all these philosophies in depth in this writing – only enough to help us appreciate what the Word has to say about time. For that purpose I’ll adopt one of the most basic, and helpful definitions of time, namely: a sequence of events.
How we relate to this sequence of events and how God relates to it is very different. Some of the statements in scripture seem at first to contain some grammatical errors: the tenses are all wrong! For instance: “Before Abraham was, I am”. In other instances the Word speaks about future events as if they had happened in the past. Hundreds of years before the birth and death of Jesus, Isaiah speaks of His suffering on the cross as a past event: “…but He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.” Is 53:5
I was bemused by an article I read about Tachyons. This is a scientific name for a theoretical particle that travels faster or at the speed of light. The nature of such a particle is truly astounding. For instance, let’s imagine one could build a fax machine based on the laws covering tachyons and we call it our tachyons fax machine. If one was to send a fax at 3pm it would arrive at 2pm! The effect precedes the cause. I immediately thought of Mat 8:16, 17 in which Jesus heals the sick who were brought to him. Verse 17 states that this was in fulfillment of what was prophesied by Isaiah. It’s again the passage in Isaiah 53 that we looked at earlier. We know that this passage refers to the suffering & death of Christ, but here again the effect (healing) of what He accomplished on the cross is experienced by people long before the cause. Another example of this inversion of time is found in Isaiah 65:24 “Before they call I answer”.
These statements draw us into a dimension beyond our normal experience of time. A dimension in which time is a radically different entity from our normal experience of it. The use of the words: “before Abraham was, I am” seems to indicate two different dimensions. One in which there is a past, present and future, and one in which there is simply a present. However, it might say more about the nature of God than about the nature of time.
Let’s start by looking at the Hebrew understanding of time as found in the Old Testament. We don’t find philosophical or abstract debates about the nature of time, as we do in the Greek philosophies of that period. Time is not described as a separate force or an extra dimension, but in rather more concrete terms. Events occurred and these events stood in relation to other events and this was in effect, time. Time has no substance apart from these events. Whereas the Greeks saw time as a separate dimension in which events happened, the Hebrews simply saw events happening and these ‘happenings’ were time. As such, eternity is never described as timeless, for there could be no events, no experience, no life without time. To be timeless would be lifeless.
The quality of events are given greater significance than the order in which they happened or the duration it took. In some instances events and persons were arranged according to the impact of their occurrence, rather than their chronological sequence. The weightiness and significance of people and events were regarded more important than the exact date of the occurrence. People did things. God did things. Time is the story of these events and has no existence beyond these events.
One of the reasons why eternity is often thought of as timeless is because of our understanding of time. Time is seen as temporal, subject to change whereas eternity is seen as changeless. However, it is the nature of change that is different in the eternal realm. There is ‘change’ that decays and there is ‘change’ that renews. 2 Cor 4:16: Therefore we do not become discouraged. Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. A blooming flower undergoes change, but every change just further establishes its beauty and essential reality. Proverbs speaks of the life of the righteous being like the rising sun, shining brighter and brighter. The eternal realm does have events and does have change, but every change further confirms the essential reality of this realm and consequently it is not temporal.
There is an event that took place in eternity of such importance and magnitude that it overflowed into our time! This mystery was hidden for ages and generations … but then it happened: the infinite filled the finite; the eternal filled the temporal, the unknowable God revealed Himself in a way we can all understand. God became man! His mind was made known; His character unveiled; His opinion of you made clear. Like an ocean emptied into a pond, it filled and changed all time – out of all proportion to the fall of man, is the redemption of man. The Lamb, who was slain from the foundation of the world, was born and walked amongst us.
It is this singular event that gives meaning to all other time. It is only within this one event that all other events can find purpose. This event is God’s reference within our time by which all other events are judged. Only within relationship to this event can the temporal, changing, time-bound events find eternal value. Although this single event was concentrated in one individual, Jesus, it included all men. And although it happened before you were born, it has a greater claim on you than your own personal past.
Whether you are aware of it or not, this event affects you … in fact it is all about you. Paul refers to it as the ‘fullness of time’ (Eph 1:10). He describes it as a singular event that has consequences for all mankind in all ages; an achievement that occurred once and included all without exception. The fullness of time … so much can be said about it, where does one begin. The fullness of time means:
No time to come can add to what was given in this event;
Our sense of satisfaction, completeness, fullness has everything to do with appreciating the event that filled all of time, and nothing to do with any future event;
We can never exhaust the wealth of understanding and insight that was lavished upon us in this event. Further on in this letter of Paul, he writes that all of eternity will be a further revelation of the exceeding greatness of God’s kindness toward us in this event – in Christ.
Jesus said on a number of occasions: ” …the time is coming, and now is …”. He tapped into eternity in such a way that the present contained everything that the future had to offer! After speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) about living water – water that not only satisfies but overflows, He ends off by saying: “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” All that eternity has to offer is in Christ and He is present in this very moment.
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Hi Andre ,
Great stuff . The Lord seems to be be giving you much depth of insight into the mystery of Christ before creation ,which is always Pauls starting point for the believers understanding of who they are in Christ.Paul with consummate ease knew the believer had the ability to grasp the incomprehensible eternal dimensions of being in Christ . Eph 3v3-4 Paul confidently assummes in reading his account of the mystery of Christ made known by revelation that we would be able to understand his insight into the mystery of Christ . 1John 2v21 expresses the same idea that the believer has an innate knowledge of the truth built into his spirit.iJohn 5v11 The testimony of God is in our hearts. This is Gods testimony in our hearts that he has given us the Life of his Son that is eternal able to grasp the eternal dimensions of our true existence in Christ . Continue speaking the eternal truth of our existencein Christ confidently knowing that Gods people are already knowers , some just dont know they know , but they will know they know ,when they hear it from you brother . God is revealing the mystery that he wants to be made known through you my friend ,that is already in the hearts of Gods people . Declare it boldly …LoveRoddy
Roddy, you always inspire me. We are planning a week wordschool in August (2-9). Would be great to see you! Let me know
Hi Andre
Great, a study in it’s own
Correct me if I am wrong, I do believe theres a difference between the time in the spiritual realm and the physical realm (as I call it)2 Pet.3 says a thousand years is like a day to the Lord. Rev.1 says I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Also all the scriptures that refer to Before the foundation of the world – The Lamb, was slain – Before Abraham was, I am and more.
I think we should measure time in spiritual realm with Tachyond as He could be in the past – present – future in the same time as the physical we could only be in the present. So we had to measure it with seconds, hours, days and years.
The fullness of time – He has finish everything before the foundation of the world. From the beginning to the end all included in Christ. You – Me = ALL
That time did overflow into our time – God revealed Himself in the flesh – His mind was made known, now we have the mind of Christ to understand and His Spirit revealed to us the mystery that was hidden
Our time is in Christ hidden in God, thats why I agree with you that the present contained everything that the future had to offer
Danie, what wonderful thoughts: a day like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day – there is no speeding up or slowing down of time, but both are equally true at once. Our God fills all of time and eternity and He made His home in Me!
Hi precious Andre
I really enjoyed your post on time and eternity. First I’ve ever heard, but wow thought provoking ..big time!!!
Did you get my message from grace revolution the other day?
Please send me your or M-A’s email address. Awesome Blessings and much grace, love Suzy
Who better to define eternity than Jesus. He said: This is eternal life:that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent – Jesus Christ.
Eternal life has much more to do with God and our intimacy with Him, than it has to do with a long period of time.
Have a look at: http://hearhim.net/wordpress/2008/01/13/string-theory-extra-dimensions-and-the-symphony-of-life/
Hi Andre,
Beautiful, wonderful, glorious truths you have explored and so clearly conveyed in writing! May God continue to reveal more and more of Himself and His perspectives to you who so faithfully share with others seeking to know Him more deeply. I have often contemplated that what we, in our human existance, sense with our five physical senses hints at some things we have yet to discover about God. Such as the mention in scripture that our praises rise up to God as a sweet smelling savor. He “smells” our praises? The mention of him spewing the lukewarm out of His mouth . . . He “tastes” the sincere passion or the indifference of men’s hearts? There are other such references and I don’t mean to anthropomorphize nor to over-analyze. These are just interesting things I have pondered. Maybe they don’t really matter much, but in digging around in the rich soil of God’s Word, it is fun to ponder the meaning of such things. Of course, as we read in I Corinthians 13, all we know now is partial and will be replaced with full understanding when we see Him who loved us first – face to face. Glory to God. God bless.
Jeanie, I thought about this spiritual ‘sense’ as well. My best attempt at defining it within a word would be ‘appreciation’. I discovered the word ‘aesthete’ a while ago, it means:Someone who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity & appreciation for beauty! Isn’t that exactly what this great Gospel reveals – the beauty of God’s thoughts toward us – woooooha!
Have a look at: hearhim.net/connect
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Hi Andre ,
There is something i want to add to the pondering of time and eternity . God is outside of time , space and eternity .Simply because these areall createdby him . I think we can confuse eternity with eternal life . They are not thesame . Eternity is created , eternal life is the un-created life of God . When God sai s he has set eternity in the hearts of men ,its the desire for a place ,our home , our natural habitat , we are home sick for eden , we are designedto naturally live in theraelmof these seen and the unseen eternal realm thats why we will live on a new heaven and a new earth , we belong to both realms .Events will unfold in these realms to reveal the riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ.In this eternal drama we will be both spectators and partcipators as we already are now.However our fellowship with God is outside of time , space and eternity . We have access through Christ to this sacred un-created/eternal life of God . Time does literally stand still here ,this is the place of no time , time was a created thing . This eternal life , the uncreated life of God, is a higher form of life than Adam/Eve had before the fall . The life they had was the created life of God , as it could be infused with spiritual death . However the essential difference in quality of the uncreated\eternal life we have in Christ after the fall , is that this Life (real life) has passed through death and cannot be touched by it again , so the life we have in Christ is as immortal as God himself . Understanding that this life is uncreated is important when it comes to fellowship with the Godhead . We have been invited into the fellowship of love between the Father and the Son by means of the spirit. This fellowship has a “timeless quality” to it , the early christians and the mystics understood this distinctive and qualitative difference .I know this timeless quality is something that you and others will have experienced in your fellowship with Him .Just thought i would throw this into the mix .Learning to fellowship with our indwelling Lord outside of time , space and eternity is vital to understand if we are to learn to walk with the Lord inwardly by his life .Which is our calling . Right!
Roddy. Makes me think of the order of Melchizedek – having no beginning of days nor end of life. And we can trace our beginning to the ‘Logos’ – the Word – which also has no beginning nor end – what an awesome thought. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end’ He doesn’t say: “I was the beginning and will be the end”, but “I am” … In this place God is both at once, so in that sense it does seem timeless to us … but His very next words are: “who was and is and is to come”. So I see God inhabits both eternity and He fills all of time. You are so right in saying this fellowship we enjoy with Him takes us into a realm very different from the natural dimensions of time and space – into the realm where all things are possible.