Everlasting Father…Jesus is eternal!
Devotions this week are based on Week 3 of “He Shall Be Called: Everlasting Father” (CLICK HERE)
Eternity is one of the key attributes of God. Any god that has a beginning or an end cannot rightly be God. Any god that has a beginning in the origin of man is simply a creation of man. Think of all the gods that had a place in the past but have no relevance in the present. They may have taken on different forms or iterations today, but there can be found a clear beginning and a clear demise of that which was called god.
When we understand that time, creation and humanity is a created reality, God must be outside of that to be God. (sorry a little bit philosophical!)
Then what takes this even a step further is to realize the extraordinary miracle of Christmas that God, who is eternal and outside of time, became subject to becoming human and existing in time.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the Everlasting Father, finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the baby born in the manger of Bethlehem. This baby, who had a human beginning, was the eternal Son of God. His existence was realized in the context of time, but his existence has no beginning and no end. As a proper conclusion, we understand and fully believe that Jesus, the Son of God and the son of Mary is the true God.
The Apostle John writes of this miracle:
- John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made….John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus spoke of it as he identified himself as the “I AM” who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, a clear name of the eternal, always existing in the present, God.
- John 8:57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
The Apostle John was given the revelation of Jesus’ eternal nature and wrote of it this way:
- Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
So why does it matter that Jesus is truly God? First it is a truth of the Bible and is a distinguishing teaching that separates biblical Christianity from other world religions such as Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Islam and more. Many will acknowledge the greatness of Jesus’ teaching, but only biblical Christianity acknowledges Jesus as true God and the second person of the Trinity.
Second, it is the assurance that Jesus’ work was enough for all people. If just a human being his life and death would have had only value for himself, but as the perfect, Son of God, he could live a perfect life and apply it to our account. As the powerful Son of God, his death was sufficient payment for the sins of the world. As the Everlasting Father Son of God, his resurrection proves that he is eternal as he lives! His resurrection to life assures us we will rise to eternal life.
Apply: If someone asked you to define or describe eternity, how would you do it? What do you think the experience of eternity would be like?
Prayer: Everlasting Father, thank you for stepping into time to carry out the work of our salvation! AMEN
Everlasting Father – The Ultimate Infinite Game!
Devotions this week are based on Week 3 of “He Shall Be Called: Everlasting Father” (CLICK HERE)
Simon Sinek in his book The Infinite Game relates the difference in playing a finite versus infinite game. A finite game is defined by a set of rules, a set time frame and a clear winner and loser at the end of the game. Modern sports are finite games. Football, basketball, baseball and more have a set of rules that need to be followed when playing the game. At the end of the four quarters or nine innings the team with the most points in the winner, the other the loser.
Standing in contrast to the finite game is the “infinite game.” The goal of this activity is to live to play or compete another day. There are not always clear rules and boundaries and the outcome is not defined by points or quantifiable measure. The winner of the infinite game is the one who continues to play the game and eventually turn over the game to another who will continue the quest.
In Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah speaks of Jesus as the Everlasting Father. Many commentators will identify this name for Jesus in a similar way as Alexander Graham Bell is the Father of the Telephone or Robert Goddard is the Father of Modern Rocketry. Charles Spurgeon put it this way in his sermon on the same phrase:
It is the manner of the Easterns to call a man the father of a quality for which he is remarkable. To this day, among the Arabs, a wise man is called “the father of wisdom;” a very foolish man “the father of folly.” The predominant quality in the man is ascribed to him as though it were his child, and he the father of it. Now, the Messiah is here called in the Hebrew “the Father of eternity,” by which is meant that he is pre-eminently the possessor of eternity as an attribute. (Charles Spurgeon – 1866)
Eternity is a predominant and key attribute of the Lord Jesus.
This reality is difficult to fully grasp as we are just about to celebrate his birth at a moment in time in a finite space. The fullness of the Infinite would dwell in finite form.
But here’s the amazing reality. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was another step in the “infinite game” of salvation which God has been working before he created time at the beginning. While Jesus took on human flesh, he was still defined by his eternal nature. As the Spirit revealed to John in the vision of Revelation:
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
What is amazing about the eternal nature of Jesus is that his work, while done in time, is not limited in impact to time. What he did in his life, death and resurrection still has importance and impact for me today. What also is equally wonderful, is the working of his eternal power has included you in me in his “infinite game of salvation.” God has continued to work his plan through centuries and millennia. While the work is defined by the Gospel of God’s grace, the impact never ends. As it has touched the hearts of people for years in the past, it will continue to do so into the future.
It’s what the Gospel does because Jesus is the Father of Eternity. The reign of the Gospel will continue past when we are done on this earth, because the Gospel is at the heart of God’s infinite game!
Apply: How would you define or describe eternity? What impact does it have to be reminded that Jesus is eternal, characterized by eternity?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Everlasting Father, thank you for being God, yet being willing to enter the finiteness of time and space to include me in the eternal impact of your Gospel message. AMEN.
Mighty God always expand our joy!
Devotions this week are based on Week 2 of “He Shall Be Called: Mighty God” (CLICK HERE)
Ask any sports team that wins a close game or ultimately wins a championship. Of course there are some that feel bad for the team that loses, but victory always brings joy. If the team is the underdog and not expected to win, the joy is even greater for the team that wins.
It’s good to be on the winning team. It’s good to have a player you can count on to carry the team on his back and do what it takes to ensure the victory.
In many ways and to a much greater extent, this is the reality for us who are on Jesus’ team. He with the one we can count on and rely on to win the victory.
When he hung on the cross, the crowd seemed to be watching a certain defeat. It seemed like Jesus’ enemies were winning. It seemed like Satan himself was pulling ahead as Jesus breathed his last. Like a crowd on the edge of their seat hoping for some sort of comeback, were the followers of Jesus as they waited those hours while Jesus was in the tomb.
Just when it seemed like time was expiring, Jesus came out of the tomb alive. Angels announced his resurrection. His followers heard the news, saw the evidence and had hearts mixed with questions and joy.
The buzzer goes off and Jesus wins.
From that point on, we live and play on the winning team!
Here’s how the Psalmist expressed the joy when Mighty God fights for you: (Psalm 118:14-17
The Lord is my strength and my defense]: he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The ultimate victory we get to experience is life eternal. The reason? Because Jesus, the Mighty God has used his power and strength to win the ultimate victory over sin, death and the devil and then, by grace, gives us the victory.
When Jesus is our Mighty God, he will always expand and give us joy!
Apply: What shifts when you know we live in the victory Jesus won for us?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for using your power and might to win the victory over sin, death and the devil for us. AMEN.
Mighty God wins our battles!
Devotions this week are based on Week 2 of “He Shall Be Called: Mighty God” (CLICK HERE)
Have you ever said or heard these phrases?
To a couple struggling in their marriage: “You have to fight for your marriage!”
To an individual diagnosed with cancer: “You’re a fighter! Don’t give up!”
To an individual that is wrongfully accused: “You have to fight for your freedom!”
To an individual faced with multiple issues at work: “You have to pick your battles.”
While we are discouraged to “pick a fight” just for the sake of showing our ego stronger than someone else, we can find ourselves in battles that are real, wearisome, and at times unsure of the outcome.
Yet we fight. We do all we can to save our marriage, improve our health, protect our reputation or to navigate a career challenge. It’s understandable and natural. The opposite of a fighter is a pushover. While some may be more prone to give in and give up, there is a natural desire to win the battles in which we are engaged.
Until we can’t.
And the marriage breaks up, the cancer spreads, or the work environment becomes intolerable.
What could we have done differently, might be the question we ponder.
Maybe we forgot to invite to the battle the one who can win the battle and infact desires to fight our battles with and for us.
Isaiah says in 9:5 “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.”
This description the Lord gives indicate the battle is over. The fighting has ceased and those things that were used to fight the battle can be burned up because they aren’t needed anymore.
Immediately following this verse is the theme of our series of the one who would come and be called…Mighty God.
So if battles are won and the victory is secured, it certainly follows that the Lord Jesus would be behind that effort and the one who has the power and strength to secure victory.
How do we know?
He secured for us the greatest victory we could ever face, the battle with death. This is a battle we often don’t think about fighting, but it is one we fear because the outcome is evident and obvious. In life we observe many “losing” the battle over death because we attend funerals and memorial services. To this day I have not seen a body come alive and walk away from their own funeral…except Jesus (through the eyes of faith in the truth of Scripture.) Here’s the Apostle Paul assuring us that this victory is ours.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If Jesus can win the greatest of battles, he will fight for us and with us in the smaller things of life, perhaps just like he did for Israel at the Red Sea:
Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The Lord will fight for you…sometimes we need only be still.
Invite your Savior Jesus to the fight early…watch him fight for you…
In your marriage, he will fight with his truth and forgiveness.
In your illness, he will fight to give you peace at the outcome and strength for the day.
In your reputation, he will testify to your perfection in Christ before your heavenly Father, the only opinion that matters.
In your career, he will give you wisdom to navigate issues in a way that glorifies him.
Jesus is a fighter…for you! Jesus is a winner…for you!
Apply: What battles are you fighting today? Have you invited Jesus to come and fight with you and for you? If not, do that today!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your power and strength that fights for me in all my battles. Forgive me for forgetting to invite you to fight for me. Lead me to always rely on your strength as my Mighty God. AMEN
Mighty God removes our burdens!
Devotions this week are based on Week 2 of “He Shall Be Called: Mighty God” (CLICK HERE)
Isaiah 9:4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Midian was not a friend of Israel. In Judges 6, this was the pain Midian inflicted on Israel:
2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. (Judges 6:2-6)
Imagine living like this as an Israelite. Daily life was hard. The oppression was real. It’s no wonder “they cried out to the Lord for help.”
Good job crying out to the Lord for help. However, this oppression from Midian went on for seven years! Why not cry out to the Lord sooner…like the first time they invaded, stole your livestock or ruined your crops.
Let me pause here, because there is a lesson for us. Don’t wait seven years! God didn’t have to muster his forces. God didn’t need time to rebuild his strength. He was more than able to act as Mighty God before seven years had passed. But the people were not ready to give up their idolatry and ego before seven years had passed. Too often we carry burdens and try to figure out life on our own, thinking “we can handle it.” Until we can’t. Then is usually when we cry out to the Lord to help.
Like with Israel, God in his mercy answered the cry for help…even though it was way too long in coming!
God sent Gideon as the Judge to lead the people of Israel to a victory over Midian. However, it was going to be obvious that the power of the Mighty God would be the victor, not the army of Israel. The Lord whittled down the army of Israel to 300 men with trumpets, flames, jars and a sword. When they surrounded the Midian army and the glass broke and the trumpets sounded, the 300 looked and sounded like way more. The Midianites turned on themselves and the invading army was routed.
God gave Israel relief from the burden of Midian.
The power of the Almighty God is willing to be exercised to remove burdens from our lives. We just need to stop carrying them ourselves and rather give them over to the Lord. Here’s three passages to remind you today to do just that:
Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days.
Psalm 68:Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Apply: What burden are you carrying today that you have been carrying for way too long? Simply share it with the Lord Jesus and say, “I’m giving it to you to carry.” Watch what he chooses to do for you!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for not casting my burdens on you much sooner than I do. Thank you for using your power to work on my behalf and always willing to carry and remove my burdens. AMEN.