Everlasting

If Day 2 One God?: Digging Deeper

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If Day 2 One God?: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

July 13, 2021

Blessed,Digging Deeper,Dwell,Fullness,God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Truth

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "One God?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:13-22

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him…
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)

Colossians 1:15 states Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” The use of the term firstborn has been problematic for some readers. It would seem to indicate that Jesus was created first, implying He is a created being, similar to an angel, and not co-existent with God before time began.

According to author Arthur Peake, “there have been some false doctrines who assert that “angelic mediators usurped the place and functions of the Son in nature and grace.”

Author David Guzik explains, “The Greek word for firstborn, prototokos, “can describe either priority in time or supremacy in rank. As Paul used it here, he probably had both ideas in mind, with Jesus being before all created things and Jesus being of a supremely different order than all created things.”

Calling Jesus firstborn in the original language was a way to describe Him as being above all, not born or created first. There are several other Scriptural instances of the term firstborn to indicate exalted state or rank, including God telling Pharaoh that Israel is His firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) and God calling David, Jesse’s youngest son, His firstborn, “greatest of the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 89:27)

Author William Barclay also points out that the word firstborn is “a title of the Messiah.” The Bible tells us clearly that Jesus is God, not just an angel or some other marvelously created being. Colossians 2:9 declares, “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ.”

We can be secure in knowing that the Jesus who came to save us (John 14:6) is the same God who created all things (Colossians 1:16).

The Everyday Application

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)

When Paul called Jesus “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,” (Colossians 1:15), he was declaring Christ’s supremacy over all things God (as Father, Son, and Spirit) had created. It was part of his teaching about the power and purpose of Jesus on earth.

Jesus is our Creator, and He desires to help His creatures. Paul reminds us that Jesus is not just a great moral leader created by God, as some false teachings suggest, but that He is Almighty God Himself, one part of the triune Godhead.

Author R.C. Sproul says of Jesus, “We are called not simply to follow His guidelines but to throw ourselves at His feet in adoration and praise. Consequently, if we want others to have a proper view of the Messiah, then we need to be careful and always speak of Him as God incarnate, who rules over all.”

This is why Paul declares Jesus to be pre-eminent over all things. Paul’s message to anyone who will listen is that the omnipotent God, because of His great love for us, came to earth as our Redeemer and covered our sins. (Colossians 1:14)

It is astonishing to realize that the God over all creation longs to be in relationship with the finite, sinful beings He created and for them to each be reconciled back to Him! (Colossians 1:22)

The Original Intent

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)

We read in Colossians 1:17 that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” If God is before all things, then He existed before creation. We read the truth of this in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Before the beginning, there was God. The “beginning” was when time began!

Author and researcher Ken Ham explains that before the creation, there was “God existing from everlasting to everlasting—God existing in eternity.” God was there, before all things, being “I AM” (Isaiah 48:12) He also holds all things together.

Author Albert Barnes states that God keeps all things “in the present state; their existence, order, and arrangement are continued by His power. If unsupported by Him, they would fall into disorder, or sink back to nothing.” Hebrews 1:3 makes a similar statement, that God “is sustaining all things by His powerful word.”

As author James Coffman puts it, “Not only did Jesus Christ create the universe, He sustains, upholds, and supports it!” God is the Author of all things and the maintainer of all things. Without Him, we would have nothing, and without Him, nothing we do have would hold together. We are divinely blessed that not only did God create everything, but He also continues to support everything He made.

The Everyday Application

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)

My friend taught at a school where the longtime secretary retired at the end of the school year. The next school year was quite chaotic for my friend because folks in the office didn’t seem to know what to do, or when to do it. The teachers received last minute requests to submit paperwork, schedules were revised multiple times, and annual events were forgotten or cobbled together at the eleventh hour. When the secretary who held the office together retired, everything fell apart! I think of this situation when I read Colossians 1:17, stating that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

Not only did God create everything, but He holds it all together in ways we don’t even suspect or understand.  If He suddenly stopped holding things together, nothing would be the same and everything would come crashing down. 

David Guzik describes Jesus as “the personal sustainer of all creation.” Not only does He hold all things together, but the verse also says He is before all things. I have sometimes wondered about that time before creation, before God spoke the world into being. Author Adam Clarke calls Jesus “the unoriginated and eternal God.” He is outside of time as we understand it. 

R.C. Sproul proclaims that God’s “Eternality goes in the other direction as well. There will never be a time in the future when God will cease to be. His being remains self-existent for all eternity.” It is both awe-inspiring and comforting to know that the eternal God is the One sustaining all creation, including you and me and all whom we hold dear.

The Original Intent

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 

When Paul called Jesus “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” in Colossians 1:18, he was referencing Christ’s resurrection. Calling Jesus the “firstborn” was a way to say that He was pre-eminent, the highest of those ever to come back from the dead. He obviously didn’t mean he was the first to come back from the dead, because Jesus Himself had raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11:42-44.

Author Don Stewart explains, “Jesus was the first person in time to come back from the dead never to die again. In addition, He is preeminent over the dead and death itself. Jesus said that He has the keys, or the authority, to death and Hades.”

Paul alludes to Jesus’ resurrection, but He also refers to a beginning, a new age, ushered in by the resurrection. R. C. Sproul explains that people redeemed by Jesus “now experience a taste of the power of the age to come through the ability to resist sin by the Holy Spirit. This future age will arrive in its fullness when all are raised from the dead, and our union with Christ assures us that we will then be raised unto eternal life just as He was.” The resurrection of Jesus points to the day when all Christians will have eternal life with Christ. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

The Everyday Application

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 

I bought a book for my friend about the names of God because he liked to pray using the various names given to God in the Bible. The cover featured Immanuel, which means “God with us,” Jehovah Jireh, “God provides,” Prince of Peace, and Light of the World, among others. Nowhere on the cover did I see the name Firstborn From the Dead, though that is one of the names of Jesus in Colossians 1:18.

It doesn’t sound as dazzling as Alpha and Omega, but the meaning behind it is just as powerful. The name firstborn indicates that Jesus is above all and over all, and in this case, it means He has power over death. He is the only one to come back from the dead and not die again.

Author Scott Hubbard explains, “Only Jesus, the second Adam, has gone from dust to dust to glory. Jesus is the first human to have a heart that will never stop beating, lungs that will never stop breathing, legs that will never stop walking, eyes that will never stop seeing.”

When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death (Romans 6:9) and sin (1 Peter 2:24) Because of His victory over death, we have the opportunity to live forever with Him in Heaven when we repent of our sins and accept His forgiveness (John 3:16)

While Firstborn From the Dead might not sound like a great name, it conveys the best news ever shared…Jesus died to set us free from sin!

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Pause IV Day 12 Worthy

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Pause IV, Day 12

God had come to Israel before.
He had delivered them from slavery.
He had shaken the earth with His mighty glory as He descended on Mt. Sinai to deliver the Ten Commandments.
He had gone before Israel as she was welcomed into the Promised Land, Canaan, and given victory after victory. (verse 3)

In the dark land of Canaan, filled with heathen worshippers of false gods, the Lord’s righteous glory shone brilliantly as He moved His people in, clearing the way before them. (verse 4) Even though His display of power over all Canaan’s inhabitants and armies was lucidly evident, Habakkuk knows this demonstration was as nothing to the Lord. His power is infinite.

When Israel sinned against the Lord, He brought them to repentance with pestilence and plague, leaving no doubt He alone held all authority. (verse 5) Even the “eternal mountains” crumbled before the Lord God, the Everlasting One, El Olam. (verse 6)

This God who announced coming punishment and exile in Habakkuk’s day, was the same God who had walked beside Israel before in love, compassion, justice, and power.
This same God would continue to remain faithful to His character.

His power had not weakened, nor had His authority waned.
He was worthy then, and He is worthy now!

Today's Invitation

1) Pull out your Bible and read Habakkuk 3:1-15 fully through 2 times. Then focus in on reading verses 3-6 several times through. Go slow. Emphasis different words each time you read it. Savor the message, and pray as you read. Write out verses 3-6 in your journal.

2) Each time you re-read verses 3-6, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Pay special attention to how Habakkuk planted himself in the truths he already knew about God, even if he hadn’t experienced those specific instances for Himself. How can you do the same?

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Habakkuk 3:1-15

A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth.

2 Lord, I have heard the report about you;
Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds.
Revive your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In your wrath remember mercy!

3 God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of his praise.
4 His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from his hand.
This is where his power is hidden.
5 Plague goes before him,
and pestilence follows in his steps.
6 He stands and shakes the earth;
he looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.
His pathways are ancient.
7 I see the tents of Cushan in distress;
the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
8 Are you angry at the rivers, Lord?
Is your wrath against the rivers?
Or is your fury against the sea
when you ride on your horses,
your victorious chariot?
9 You took the sheath from your bow;
the arrows are ready to be used with an oath. Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains see you and shudder;
a downpour of water sweeps by.
The deep roars with its voice
and lifts its waves high.
11 Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,
at the flash of your flying arrows,
at the brightness of your shining spear.
12 You march across the earth with indignation;
you trample down the nations in wrath.
13 You come out to save your people,
to save your anointed.
You crush the leader of the house of the wicked
and strip him from foot to neck. Selah
14 You pierce his head
with his own spears;
his warriors storm out to scatter us,
gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.
15 You tread the sea with your horses,
stirring up the vast water.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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The GT Weekend! ~ He Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) On Monday, Paula wrote of the Lord being, “Someone fierce. Someone dangerous to their reign of deception. Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts.” The great I Am (Yahweh) is the Lord of Hosts (Sabaoth) and of Angel Armies. With His mighty force He pushes back the powers of darkness, for they hold no power or authority against Him. Truly, it isn’t even a fight, for just a word from Yahweh and enemies are vanquished. In your own life, where do you need to surrender your battles to Yahweh Sabaoth who is never defeated? Where do you hold more tightly to lies than truth? This is a battle for the Lord of Hosts! Where relationships crumble, where brokenness runs deep, where wounds are still felt, where the darkness in our minds or hearts is heavy, these are battles for Yahweh Sabaoth. Turn them over to Him and shelter in His hiding place as He fights for you!

2) “From everlasting to everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:2 holds truth I need in my everyday life. He is the unchanging God. His promises are sure and certain. His hope is alive from eternity past to eternity future. He rules across all of time. Because each of those statements are true, it is utterly impossible for Him to be unaware of my mundane moments or be left powerless over them. Rather, this verse is a reminder to me that in every messy moment, He is God. When I’m weeping, when I’m dancing, when I’m breathless with excitement or heart-broken, He is God. Nothing is unseen by Him. Take this truth and breath it in and out. Make this verse your mantra, applying to every moment of hurt and joy because our God spans from everlasting to everlasting!

3) El Gibhor means Mighty God. Read, victorious in every way. No battle is too intense. No suffering too painful for His healing. Not even death holds the “win” against El Gibhor. Every broken aspect of our lives is an opportunity to surrender it to the power of the Mighty God, waiting for His timing and His wise, loving power to bring about redemption. For those who trust Christ with the full weight of their lives, Mighty God acts and moves on their behalf to bring about victory and redemption in every part of their lives. We might see that redemptive work in our lives now, in part, but one day, we will see the full working of El Gibhor as He has mightily worked for our good in all things! In the now, we wait with the certainty of coming hope, trusting our God! What heavy burden have you been carrying that you will choose to surrender to Mighty God in trust?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

Prayer Journal
I am so weak, Lord! How could You even consider me as You operate within infinite power and authority? How could You show kindness to me, or remember my existence? How could You bother with seeing my mundane struggles? Even my biggest struggles, heaviest burdens, and deepest wounds are nothing difficult to You, yet You lavish love, tenderness, compassion, and Your own righteousness upon all who call on Your name for salvation! In my humanity, Lord, I admit that when I walk through difficulty or no longer feel close to You, I doubt Your goodness. I forget You are the One holding even my cell structure together. The true reality of Your loving character will never change. Never will you abandon. Never will you leave me hopeless. Never will You destroy the soul who has trusted You. May my tongue sing Your praise of goodness all my days!

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He Day 14 El Olam: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out El Olam!

The Questions

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. 29 He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. 30 Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)
Isaiah 40:28 says “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.” The word everlasting comes to us from the Hebrew terms “El”, which refers to God, and “olam”, which means forever or eternal.  Albert Barnes explains how an everlasting God “has existed from eternity, unlike the idols of the pagan. If He was from eternity, He would be unchangeable, and His purposes could not fail.”  So, an everlasting God is one who has existed always and never changes. We see Abraham calling God an everlasting God in Genesis 21:33. In Isaiah 57:15 the prophet calls God the “High and Exalted One, who lives forever.”  In Malachi 3:6 God says, “I, the Lord, have not changed.” In Psalm 90:2, the Psalmist declares “from eternity to eternity, you are God.”  Because God is everlasting, “the same yesterday, today and forever”, He can be trusted and relied upon. (Hebrews 13:8) He is faithful and true, from now to forever!

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)
Isaiah 40:29 tells us God “gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.”  Author Albert Barnes explains that “The design of this verse is to give consolation to the afflicted and down-trodden people in Babylon, by recalling to their minds the truth that it was one of the characteristics of God that He ministered strength to those who were conscious of their own feebleness, and who looked to Him for support.”  Isaiah was speaking to the Jews taken captive in Babylon, and He wanted to encourage them as their hope waned and their strength grew faint.  According to author David Guzik, faint comes from the Hebrew meaning “failure through loss of inherent strength.” God promises to strengthen those who have lost strength and who have no power.  David Guzik also observes, “Those who are proud and confident in their own wisdom and strength will receive no strength from God.”  It is the powerless to whom God gives strength, not the arrogant. He strengthens those who recognize their need for Him. According to Thomas Constable God “shares His strength with those who need it. He has all energy, and He has energy to spare and to share. Whether we buckle under life’s pressures or lack innate strength, He provides durable, stable power.”  When the Israelites needed strength, Isaiah reminded them to look to God and access His power. God gives us that gift as well! He gives us strength when we look to Him and rely on Him.

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)
We read in Isaiah 40:31 that “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.”  According to author E.W. Bullinger, the word “renew” comes from the “Hebrew “halaph” meaning to change for the better.” Author Warren Wiersbe explains, “The word renew means ‘to exchange,’ as taking off old clothing and putting on new. We exchange our weakness for His power.”  The Hebrew word for strength, koah/koach, means “power, capacity or ability and thus speaks of power in the sense of the inherent potential to perform some function.”  When we put our trust in the Lord, waiting for His perfect will and timing in our lives, He takes our worries, struggles and fears and gives us the power to carry on.  When Christians rely on God’s strength, they can do more than just survive; Isaiah 40:31 promises they “will soar on wings  like eagles;  they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”  This is something that cannot be done in natural, human strength.  Even the best athletes will eventually grow weary from running. God blesses His people with this supernatural strength to walk in His ways as they trust in Him, and He renews their strength each time they wait upon His will and His plans.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)
One of my favorite places to visit as a child was my Grandma’s house.  I loved running up the staircase in the living room and descending the back stairs into the kitchen.  I enjoyed the glass bluebirds that decorated the tables and windowsills, and I relished poking around in closets and drawers, finding books, pictures and forgotten treasures. In the 40 years I visited her house, nothing ever changed.  Same furniture, same knick-knacks, same art on the walls.  It was very comforting to know that no matter how much my life changed, Grandma’s house was always the same.  It was a sad day when the house was cleaned out and sold, and I knew I could never go back and see things just the way Grandma left them.  That is why is there is so much comfort and solace to me in the fact that God never changes.  Isaiah 40:28 tells us God is “everlasting”, meaning He does not change and is eternal. I can trust that my unchanging God will come through for me and keep His promises.  I can trust that the God who knows the beginning from the end has a holy calling on my life to fulfill His purposes. (2 Timothy 1:9) My God who never changes gives me good gifts (James 1:17) and gives me the security and comfort to follow Him, knowing He will guide me safely, just as He has promised from days of old.

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)
Ever since I was a child, my dream job was being a Mom.  When I married, we waited several years to start a family, and I felt like I was just putting in time at my job as a teacher until I could fulfill my true calling of being a mother.  When my children finally arrived, I was overjoyed! Soon, however, I was also overwhelmed. I maintained some sense of order until the 2nd baby started to walk.  After that, there was a lot of chaos, jumble, and exhaustion, but the worst part was that feeling of powerlessness. I did not have much control over behaviors or attitudes (theirs or mine!).  I had felt that in the classroom too, but I expected things to be different in my parenting. Being bone-tired all the time did not help.  Not only did I not know what to do, but I didn’t have the energy to do much at all.  Of course, I talked to other moms, bought lots of books, and read lots of advice online.  This helped to some extent, but what I needed most was strength from the Lord.  I needed to stop thinking I should be inherently equipped to do my dream job and recognize I needed God’s help to parent my children (and to do everything else!).  Isaiah 40:29 tells us God “gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.” When I relied on God for my daily strength, the days went along much better.  There was probably just as much chaos and jumble in my house, but in my spirit, there was more peace because I looked to God to strengthen me.  I did not do everything perfectly (as my now adult son likes to point out), but most days were powered by God’s strength, and that made all the difference between anxiety and peace in my heart.

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)
We read in Isaiah 40:31 that “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not become weary,  they will walk and not faint.”  How can trusting in the Lord renew our strength?  As author Warren Wiersbe points out, “God knows how we feel and what we fear, and He is adequate to meet our every need. We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need.”  When we look to ourselves and rely on our own power, we cannot get far.  We eventually stumble and fall.  When we turn to God, trusting in Him to take care of everything, he renews our strength.  He helps us run without getting tired and helps us walk without wearing down.  As author Matthew Poole notes, God helps His people “grow stronger and stronger in faith, and patience, and fortitude, whereby they shall be more than conquerors over all their enemies and adversities.”  God renews our strength to help us do all the things He calls us to do when we trust in His plan, His timing and His will. Waiting for Him to show Himself faithful and come through can be difficult, but He promises strength to those who put their trust in Him.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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He Day 13 El Olam

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 90:1-4
Exodus 3:1-15
John 8:48-59
Revelation 4:1-11
Isaiah 40:28-31

He, Day 13

Have you ever studied the names of God? Learning about His names gives added meaning to our relationship with God in profound, breathtaking ways.

But honestly, friends, it took me a hot second to come to this understanding. In fact, I have struggled with this particular study.  Perhaps it was because I was trying to define “everlasting” in terms that make sense to our time-bound minds, or maybe I wasn’t grasping the whole meaning of the name El Olam, “Everlasting God.”

I turned in one version of the study that I honestly didn’t like, crying because I couldn’t put into words what I knew needed to be said. I knew if the study wasn’t making sense to me, it wouldn’t make sense to those who would read it.

But this week in chapel, God put me right where He needed me to embrace a whole new meaning to His name.

El Olam, “Everlasting God.”
Everlasting calls to mind words like:
For a long time
Always
Forever
Never-ending

Hebrews 13:8 declares, “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Additionally, Revelation 1:8 reminds us He is the “Alpha and Omega [. . .] the One who is, who was, and who is to come.”

In Psalm 90:2, everlasting is described as “from eternity to eternity, You are God.”

In first grade, my teacher wanted us to consider how God is without beginning and He will always be. For a first grader, existence beyond the bounds of time is pretty tough to comprehend. Well, for an adult, it’s hard to comprehend!

We all have our beginning, a moment in time where we became who we are (Psalm 139:13-16). But God is without a beginning; He has simply always been.

For me, the never-ending is significantly easier to understand than never beginning. While everything on earth ends, all will live eternally somewhere. If we believe in God, we’ll spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

Eternity is a long time. Even thinking about it, you can see how I put the constraints of time in the thoughts. But to God, eternity is all the same, a great oneness (2 Peter 3:8-9). He has always existed and He will never cease to exist.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites called God Yahweh, which means “I am.” Yahweh is the most important name of God, in that it encompasses all of who God is. When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, God gave Moses a new insight into who He is.

“I Am who I Am […] the Lord, the God of your fathers.” (Exodus 3:14-15)

“I Am who I Am” could also be translated “I will be who I will be and I will continue to be.”
I am the LORD, Yahweh, forever, changeless God.

What does this mean for us in our lifetime?

The same as it did for Moses. The God whom we turned against in our sin, sent Jesus to cover the debt of our sinfulness. In John 8:58, Jesus says, “before Abraham was, I Am.”
I am the LORD, Yahweh, forever God.
Our Savior is the same eternal God we read about in Exodus, Psalms, and Revelation.
Our everlasting Savior is the same “I Am” today.

Our forever God is forever:
Dependable
Trustworthy
Consistent
Faithful
Good
Love

With time, comes change in our physical, linear world. The seasons change. We see physical change throughout our life. Finances change. Circumstances change.

But God does not, nor will He ever, change.

His character does not change.

His Word does not change.

Isaiah 40:28-31 reminds us of our everlasting God. God doesn’t change; therefore we find strength in Him. When we are left feeling bereft, frightened, or confused by the shifting, time-locked world around us, we can look to our everlasting God.

We can share in His hope, always.

We can share in His peace and His joy, always.

We can share in the unending assurance of His presence, His care, and His provision.
Always.

He holds all from before time began and will hold all when time ceases.
He was, and is, and is to come.
He is everlasting.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into He Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in He!