WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.860 You're going to need two things. You're going to need a Bible with Psalm 90 open before you. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:10.300 ! And you should have been given one of these little sheets with a load of scriptures written on it. 00:00:14.259 --> 00:00:20.900 Ultimately, as a church, we have one concern, only one, and that is to know God. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:29.019 That is what we're about. To know God, to serve Him, to enjoy Him, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.280 and ultimately to see Him glorified. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:37.780 I hope that you could draw a straight line from everything we do as a church to that. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:42.500 Why do we do Little Stars with parent and toddlers on a Monday morning? 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:44.759 So that people would come to know God. 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:47.600 Why do we do Club 16 and Ignite? 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:54.420 So that our children would be instructed how to serve God and enjoy Him and to glorify Him. 00:00:54.900 --> 00:00:56.439 Why do we do the language class? 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:58.919 So that people would learn English, yes. 00:00:59.419 --> 00:01:05.920 But more than that, we want to show them the love of the God whom we want them to know and to serve and to glorify and enjoy. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:14.180 And so there's nothing, nothing more important in our church's life, in your life, and in my life, than knowing God. 00:01:14.180 --> 00:01:21.720 And that's why we're doing this series on Sunday mornings, looking at the Westminster Shorter Catechism's teaching on what is God. 00:01:21.800 --> 00:01:29.240 God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:32.900 And so we come this morning to God is eternal. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:39.860 Verse 2 of Psalm 90 reveals something of God to you. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:49.939 Before the mountains are brought forth, or ever you've formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:51.480 We've learnt that God is a spirit. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.539 We've learnt that God is infinite. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:02:01.319 And we come to this truth, that God as a spirit, He is infinite and eternal. 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:06.039 Eternal in the sense that He is not bounded in any way by the boundaries of time. 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.960 He's not limited by time in any way. 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:10.640 He's infinite. 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:12.060 We learnt that last week, didn't we? 00:02:12.580 --> 00:02:14.900 He's not infinite, not limited by space. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:15.900 He's everywhere. 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:20.200 But this week we learn that He is not limited by time. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.140 And Psalm 90 sets this contrast. 00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:29.460 It very simply says this, that God is not like you. 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:32.300 God is not like you. 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:34.620 In two ways. 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:38.180 First of all, it sets it out in terms of our own frailty. 00:02:39.640 --> 00:02:41.560 We are frail. 00:02:42.880 --> 00:02:44.040 You are frail. 00:02:44.320 --> 00:02:45.800 It sets out our weakness. 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:48.100 It describes us as dusty. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.600 We are dusty. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:53.320 We are made of the dust of the earth. 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:56.560 God is not dusty. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:00.379 There is nothing dusty about God. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:03.520 Because He is from everlasting to everlasting. 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:06.860 But there's something dusty about us. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:08.460 We are made from the dust. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:09.860 And we return to the dust. 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:11.620 The psalmist says, 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:14.879 A thousand years in your sight, O God, is but as yesterday. 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:19.980 But with us, time is different. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:24.280 When it comes to God, time has no effect. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:27.539 Whatever speed it travels. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:29.819 But that's not true of you, is it? 00:03:30.019 --> 00:03:30.699 Not true of me. 00:03:31.459 --> 00:03:34.199 We know that there is a constant motion of speed. 00:03:34.979 --> 00:03:37.899 And yet we say, don't we, time flies. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:44.460 We still wonder how it comes about that life is speeding up. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:50.360 That it's passing us by more quickly than it did when we were young. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:54.599 We find ourselves with the psalmist saying here, 00:03:54.700 --> 00:03:57.140 We've been swept along in our life. 00:03:57.200 --> 00:03:59.800 As though we're being swept along in a flood. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:03.300 The water moves quickly in a flood. 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:07.040 We find ourselves in life, we're like grass. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:09.259 That jumps up to life in the morning. 00:04:09.579 --> 00:04:11.879 And then it withers and it's cut down in the evening. 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:14.120 It's distressing, isn't it? 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:14.879 To see how weak. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.399 To see how dusty we are. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.639 To recognize how quickly life passes us by. 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:26.800 And time is operating, I think, upon us in more than one way. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:31.860 It's a picture, I think, of the speed of time. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.759 So when you're little, you children, isn't it? 00:04:34.379 --> 00:04:36.779 When I was little, I used to think, I can't wait until I grow up. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.180 I can't wait until I'm a grown up. 00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:42.860 I remember really vividly sitting in Welsh. 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:45.460 You had to learn Welsh until you were 16. 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:47.780 And I'd sit in Welsh on a Tuesday afternoon. 00:04:48.140 --> 00:04:50.340 And the lesson lasted forever. 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:51.860 I sat just in front of the clock. 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:54.720 And I watched the time going around an hour. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:04:57.020 Rambo was the teacher, was his nickname. 00:04:57.019 --> 00:04:59.060 And it lasted forever. 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:02.459 And time when you're little, it seems... 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:03.539 Do you remember your holidays, isn't it? 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:04.519 Your holidays, they seem... 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:05.439 Three weeks were going to be away. 00:05:05.539 --> 00:05:06.699 They seem to last forever. 00:05:07.859 --> 00:05:08.899 Summer holidays come. 00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:11.180 It seems to stretch on for ages. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.500 But it's not like that when you're older, is it? 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:17.579 The days. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.000 The weeks. 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:21.660 The months. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:23.740 The years. 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:25.100 They fly by. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:30.800 And sometimes when you're older, do you know, children, you can't remember what year it is. 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:32.100 20, 26. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.040 It's passed so quickly. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.780 And people tell me you're older than I am that as you get older, it just zips by even faster. 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.160 Time seems to get faster. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:50.680 But the contrast here between I'm God and you is not just in terms of the speed of life. 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:52.920 And the speed of which our life passes. 00:05:53.820 --> 00:05:56.640 But it also explains why that's the case. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:03.000 That the speed of our life passes, and that is a direct result of sin. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:05.540 Sin has caused that. 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:07.199 And that's what he's saying. 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:08.199 Look at verses 7 and 8. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:08.519 It says, 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:10.939 We're brought to an end by your anger. 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:13.899 By your wrath we're dismayed. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:19.459 You've set our iniquities, our rebellion before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:21.819 For all our days pass away under your wrath. 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:24.540 We bring our years to an end like a sigh. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:27.180 The years of our life are 70. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:29.560 If by reason of strength, maybe 80. 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:34.319 Yet by their span they are but trouble and toil. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:40.000 And that last phrase there, toil and trouble, that is a reference, isn't it, back to Genesis 3. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:45.840 To the toil and trouble that fell upon us because of the curse. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:48.579 Genesis 1 and 2, there's no trouble. 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:55.180 But because we've fallen into sin, this life is not the life it was meant to be. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:07:00.680 The speed at which life happens is not simply just, well that's life. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:07.980 But the speed in which life happens is because we live under the toil and under the sorrow of what it is to live under the curse. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.840 And the effect of the curse of God on our life. 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:17.280 And the nature of sin as it's affected us, that we're dying. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:23.299 We are experiencing the wages of sin that we're suffering. 00:07:24.859 --> 00:07:29.599 We are living lives under the curse of God as it fell upon men and women. 00:07:31.039 --> 00:07:36.719 And those two things, the speed of life that's passing and the nature of that speed. 00:07:37.059 --> 00:07:40.639 In terms of its toil and its sorrow and its rapid change. 00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:43.419 Well that's what's happened to sinners like you and I. 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:48.160 And the contrast Psalm 90 wants to say is God is not like that. 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:55.660 Not only does God, for God the speed of life does not pass him by. 00:07:57.540 --> 00:07:59.480 He's also not affected by sin. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.060 He is not like us. 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:03.200 Time doesn't affect him. 00:08:03.340 --> 00:08:04.660 Nor is he affected by the curse. 00:08:05.960 --> 00:08:07.900 He is from everlasting to everlasting. 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:12.580 God is eternal and he is timeless. 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:16.220 And maybe that's a really hard one to understand. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:20.780 The problem is when we speak of time and eternity. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.860 And we're speaking as if we understood the meaning of those words. 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:28.040 As though we understand the meaning of time. 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:31.460 As though we understand the meaning of eternity. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:38.039 And when we think of eternity, we define it in terms of time. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:43.600 But I don't think that's very helpful when we look at the character of God. 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:48.220 We think of eternity as unending time. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:54.019 And yet time itself is something that God has created. 00:08:56.660 --> 00:09:00.440 Time itself is something that God has made. 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:06.580 And what it sets out to us here is what we can hardly begin to understand. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:11.800 We can hardly begin to understand time as it's created by God. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:14.800 And so we can hardly begin to understand eternity. 00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:15.980 That God is eternal. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:18.860 That God is not affected by time in the way that we are. 00:09:20.180 --> 00:09:24.940 That God as being the creator of time and being above and beyond time is not affected by time. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:30.820 How incomprehensible God is. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:35.780 How far above us he is. 00:09:37.640 --> 00:09:43.460 And that should lead us at least to humility as we look at this aspect of his character. 00:09:43.560 --> 00:09:46.140 So what I want to do is I want to do three things the same as we did last week. 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:50.940 Is I want us to look really what does the scriptures teach us about this. 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:53.220 And then I want us to look at what does it mean. 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:55.720 And then how does it apply to you and I in our day to day lives. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.560 And so if you look at the sheet. 00:09:58.040 --> 00:10:02.519 What do the scriptures teach us about that God is eternal. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:06.519 There's many many verses in the Bible. 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:09.759 That make it very clear to you that God is eternal. 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:11.920 So Genesis 21 verse 33. 00:10:12.060 --> 00:10:13.379 Adam planted the tree in Beersheba. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.500 And there he called on the name of the Lord. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:16.680 The everlasting God. 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:18.519 Stated categorically. 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:21.279 Deuteronomy 32 verse 40. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.000 God speaking of swearing by his own name. 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:26.519 And he says I lift up my hand to heaven. 00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:28.919 And swear as I live forever. 00:10:30.339 --> 00:10:31.919 God is telling us something about himself. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:34.919 Deuteronomy 33 verse 27. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:38.279 The eternal God is your dwelling place. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.679 And underneath are the everlasting arms. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:41.699 What a beautiful verse. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:44.480 Job 36. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.819 Behold God is great. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.919 And we know him not. 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:49.019 The number of his years. 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.759 It's unsearchable. 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.379 Psalm 102. 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:56.799 Oh Lord you laid the foundation of the earth. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.099 And the heavens are the work of your hands. 00:10:58.179 --> 00:10:58.740 They will perish. 00:10:58.819 --> 00:10:59.899 But you will remain. 00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:02.779 They will wear it like a garment. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.179 You will change them like a robe. 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:04.959 And they will pass away. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:06.539 But you are the same. 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.099 And your years have no end. 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:12.519 The children of your offspring shall dwell secure. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:14.799 Their offspring shall be established before you. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:16.459 And that verse is really helpful. 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:18.719 Because it's setting before us. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.120 One of the meanings of the fact that God is forever. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.319 One of the meanings. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.699 As we'll see in a moment. 00:11:25.819 --> 00:11:27.679 Is that God does not change. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.599 He's unchanging. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.639 That's next week's sermon. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.339 God is a spirit. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:32.799 Infinite. 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:33.240 Eternal. 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.059 And unchangeable. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:35.000 So Isaiah 40. 00:11:35.079 --> 00:11:35.719 Have you not known? 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.539 Have you not heard? 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.919 The Lord is the everlasting God. 00:11:38.979 --> 00:11:40.359 The creator of the ends of the earth. 00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:43.179 He does not grow faint or grow weary. 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:45.039 His understanding is unsearchable. 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.620 They draw on in chapter 44. 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.819 The Lord, the King of Israel. 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.519 And His Redeemer. 00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:50.099 The Lord of hosts. 00:11:50.219 --> 00:11:50.919 I am the first. 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.079 And I am the last. 00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:53.500 Besides me there is no God. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.639 The uniqueness of God is stated there. 00:11:56.739 --> 00:11:57.759 He alone is eternal. 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:00.579 Isaiah 57. 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.259 That says. 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:03.359 The one who is high and lifted up. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:04.739 Who inhabits eternity. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:06.779 Whose name is holy. 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:08.399 I dwell in the high and the holy place. 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.240 And also with him who is of a contrite and lowly heart. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:14.980 To revive the spirit of the lonely. 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:17.240 And to revive the spirit of the contrite. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:18.940 Here again. 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:20.440 Can you see the contrast? 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.039 God dwells in eternity. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.960 And there is no limits in space to contain him. 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:29.460 There is no limits in terms of time to contain him. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:33.320 And yet can you see from Isaiah 57 where else he dwells? 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.799 He dwells in the heart of the contrite. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:37.460 The poor. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:38.480 The broken. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:39.340 The humble. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.820 The sinner. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:41.720 It is astonishing grace. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.680 You go to Romans 16. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.259 Where it talks about the Lord Jesus. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:48.360 That he has now been disclosed. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:50.060 And through the prophetic writings. 00:12:50.180 --> 00:12:51.299 Has been made to all the nations. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:54.000 According to the command of the eternal God. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.519 To bring about the obedience of faith. 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.799 And so right at the heart of the good news of the Lord Jesus. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:03.139 Is the eternity of God. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:06.360 Commanding the obedience of faith. 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:11.680 And when Paul gives his doxology in 1 Timothy 1. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:14.180 He says to the king of the ages. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.000 What does that mean? 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:19.340 It's a wonderful way to describe that he is the Lord of all eternity. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.800 And it means that he is everlasting. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:24.080 To the king of the ages. 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:25.279 Immortal. 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:25.639 Invisible. 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.340 The only God. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.259 Be honor and glory. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.720 Forever and ever. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:29.180 Amen. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.160 And then Revelation is full of it. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:32.780 Revelation 1. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.100 4. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:33.399 John. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:35.540 To the seven churches that are in Asia. 00:13:35.660 --> 00:13:39.220 Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. 00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:42.120 And from the seven spirits who are before his throne. 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:44.399 You go on later in that chapter. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:44.680 And he says. 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.859 I am the Alpha and the Omega. 00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:46.819 The beginning and the ending. 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:47.379 Who is. 00:13:47.479 --> 00:13:47.939 Who was. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:48.679 And who is to come. 00:13:48.739 --> 00:13:49.139 The Almighty. 00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:51.059 Revelation 10. 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:53.239 Who swore by him who lives forever and ever. 00:13:53.599 --> 00:13:55.419 He created heaven and what is in it. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.500 The earth and what is in it. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.539 The sea and what is in it. 00:13:57.599 --> 00:13:58.859 That there would be no more delay. 00:13:58.979 --> 00:14:00.379 And then chapter 15 verse 7. 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.399 One of the four living creatures. 00:14:02.579 --> 00:14:04.539 Gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls. 00:14:04.719 --> 00:14:06.120 Full of the wrath of God. 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.719 Who lives forever and ever. 00:14:09.339 --> 00:14:10.679 And can you see that there. 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.699 Which is quite important isn't it. 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:14.500 The everlasting nature of God. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:17.839 It stands right beside his wrath. 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:18.639 His anger. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.959 It's one of the lessons that we need to bring to bear upon ourselves. 00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:31.059 Those I think that they are sufficient aren't they. 00:14:31.459 --> 00:14:34.439 As we gallop through the word of God to show you that God is eternal. 00:14:36.459 --> 00:14:38.179 This is part of the character of God. 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.179 That God is spirit. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:40.479 Yes. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.159 God is infinite. 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.539 Yes. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.419 God is eternal. 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.519 He is everlasting. 00:14:43.719 --> 00:14:44.259 He was. 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:45.919 He is. 00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:47.439 He will always be. 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.659 He's the alpha and the omega. 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.459 He's the first. 00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:51.519 The last. 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.299 The beginning and the end. 00:14:53.359 --> 00:14:54.319 And there is no one like him. 00:14:54.359 --> 00:14:55.599 He is incomparable. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.339 He is everlasting. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:15:00.940 And that is gracious to us and to our children. 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:03.340 He is everlasting. 00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:05.440 It means that his wrath abides. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:07.840 Forever. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:13.759 And so we need to stand very carefully listening to the word of God and taking heed of that. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.019 So what does it mean? 00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.100 What does it mean? 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.100 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:24.000 When the Bible tells you that God is eternal and God is everlasting, I think there's three things. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.840 First of all, it says that God has no beginning. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.620 It's really obvious. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:31.480 That is incomparable to have no beginning. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.179 There's nothing else like that. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.440 Nothing. 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:38.060 God is the only one, the only being who had no beginning. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:44.279 Remember, we're told, first verse of the Bible, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:49.639 And when we think of time, we think of time as the movement of these things that God has created. 00:15:51.239 --> 00:15:56.799 When we understand time, what we're doing is we're understanding the movement of the things that God has created. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:00.059 God created the heavens and the earth. 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:03.459 And that is the point at which God creates time. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.699 At least as we measure it. 00:16:08.859 --> 00:16:10.479 At least as we understand it. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:16.799 Now let me explain what I mean you are fortunate to have as a minister one of the great scientific minds of all time. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:20.739 And so let me try and explain it with my GCSE science. 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:24.939 It is God who set the earth upon its axis. 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:30.020 To revolve upon its axis once every 24 hours. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.540 That makes a day. 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:36.700 And we used to measure the year by the lunar calendar, by the stages of the moon and how it appeared. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.420 And we divided things up in that particular way. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.280 And we were measuring time in terms of a lunar calendar, a lunar month. 00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:50.440 And we measure our years by the orbit of the earth around the sun. 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:55.480 Once every 365 and quarter days, I'm told. 00:16:56.760 --> 00:16:57.880 That's how we measure time. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.740 But God made that. 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:05.059 God set that up. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.840 God invented that. 00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:13.960 God thought that up in his own mind. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.039 Before there was nothing. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:20.019 Can you understand? 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.619 There was just God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.879 And he set it up in this exact way, in this exact detail. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.539 He started it. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.159 He invented it. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.740 He thought it. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.019 He set it up. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.940 He made those things happen. 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.639 He had no beginning. 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.500 To start. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.220 No start. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.500 And no one invented God. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.700 Or thought him up. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.680 Or started him up. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.119 Or set him in motion. 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.740 God has always existed. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.500 He always was. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:54.000 Do you remember how Moses at the burning bush said, tell me your name? 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.599 Do you remember what God said his name was? 00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:57.659 I am. 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.000 That I am. 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.379 He's using the verb to be. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.799 To describe his nature. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.819 To reveal something of himself. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.039 Tell us who you are. 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.319 Well, I am. 00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:10.819 Okay. 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:16.759 And we can't grasp that because we live on a little ball that turns around. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.019 And goes around once a day. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:22.599 And there's other little balls kind of going around it. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.559 And that in turn is moving another thing. 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.980 But God made all of that. 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.539 He has no beginning. 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:33.119 And let me take it another way. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.639 Let me contrast it. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.920 With our own existence. 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.119 With our own beginning. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.240 We were formed, weren't we, in our mother's womb. 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.759 And we were born on a certain day. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:50.480 Those of us who are parents. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.339 Do you remember that time when you were handed your child? 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.539 And you held them in your arms? 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:01.960 I remember holding Ellie with their little kind of bright eyes. 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.319 Looking at me. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.460 This little head of her. 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.460 The softest cheeks. 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.599 The softest skin. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.500 She's looking at me. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:13.980 What is a baby when you hold a newborn baby in your arms? 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.480 What is that? 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.259 Helpless. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.619 Totally helpless. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:23.240 And on the day you were born. 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:26.539 You were utterly, utterly helpless. 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:31.619 God was never helpless. 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.920 God had no beginning. 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:36.539 God was never young. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.920 God was never immature. 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.740 God was never developing. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.660 God was never growing. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.779 God was never childish. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.640 God was never weak. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.800 God was always perfect. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.580 I think that's a good way to illustrate it. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.400 God had no beginning. 00:19:52.300 --> 00:19:53.320 I had a beginning. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.860 And you had a beginning. 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:57.140 And the whole world in which we live had a beginning. 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:58.500 Time had a beginning. 00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.160 He made it. 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.720 God is above that. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.300 And beyond that. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.519 And he's not limited in any way in that direction. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:12.799 But the second thing that is true and what it means for us is that God is eternal. 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.079 That he had no beginning. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.799 Well, it's obvious that he will have no end. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:20.240 There will be no end to him. 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:23.839 Let me give you two examples. 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:26.919 In the end, God will take the universe that he has made. 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:33.000 And he will scrunch it up like a piece of paper. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.019 And he will bring it to an end. 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:40.620 And the earth revolving on its axis. 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:42.240 The moon going round the earth. 00:20:42.300 --> 00:20:43.000 The whole thing going round. 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:43.480 The sun. 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.640 The whole universe. 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.800 He will just take it up. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.200 And he will crump it like a piece of paper. 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:54.180 The sun and the moon and the stars and everything we know. 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.480 He'll end it. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.180 He'll call a stop. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.079 It's degenerating. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.740 It's decaying as a result of our sin. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.240 It's under the curse and groaning. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.859 And God will renew it. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.779 Yes, of course. 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:09.980 But he'll bring it to an end first before he renews it. 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:13.059 And the psalmist says that's just like us. 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:16.379 This world in which we live is going to come to an end. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:17.440 But God is not like that. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.300 And so you and I are decaying. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.720 And growing old. 00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:23.600 Don't we know it? 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:26.000 We start to lose our edge. 00:21:27.260 --> 00:21:28.420 We start to lose our fitness. 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:30.580 We start to lose our shape. 00:21:33.340 --> 00:21:35.400 You don't need me to go any further than that. 00:21:35.540 --> 00:21:36.260 You know that. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.200 We don't need to be specific. 00:21:39.280 --> 00:21:39.940 It's happening, isn't it? 00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.580 I watch it. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.820 As I look at you week by week. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.960 And you watch it week by week. 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:50.539 But it'll never happen to God. 00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:53.879 There's no decay of God. 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.119 There's no slowing down. 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.960 He doesn't lose his edge. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.279 He doesn't lose his fitness. 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.799 He is unending. 00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:05.859 He is as he is forever. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.819 It's astonishing. 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.240 It is mind bending. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.480 What he was. 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.159 And what he is. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.879 And what he will be. 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.200 And what he will be. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.899 He will be forever. 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.439 So the third thing. 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:22.439 In terms of what the meaning of this has. 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.299 God has no beginning. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.759 God has no end. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:28.759 But it also means that God is the same. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.039 He's always the same. 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.339 And I'm running into next week's sermon. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.299 But I can't help it. 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.079 That God is unchanging. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.839 God is a spirit. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.240 Infinite. 00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:36.720 Eternal. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:37.859 And unchangeable. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.619 Time does not operate upon God. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.539 He is the creator of time. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.119 He's always present. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.259 He is the great I am. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.279 He's always the same. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.059 God is always the same. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.700 There's immense comfort in that. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:54.120 There's also immense warning in that. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.860 It doesn't mean. 00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.740 And this is where the kind of discussion gets complicated. 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.819 It doesn't mean. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.940 That God cannot do things in sequence of time. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.420 If God is always the same. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.680 How can he do things in sequence. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.340 One thing after another in time. 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.900 In the time that he's created. 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.160 Well I don't know. 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.519 How he does that. 00:23:17.600 --> 00:23:18.360 But he does do that. 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:20.839 And of course he does. 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:23.339 He does things sequentially. 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:25.759 In the world that he has created. 00:23:25.939 --> 00:23:26.899 He's always the same. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.019 He does not change. 00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:31.919 And we'll look at the implications of this next week. 00:23:31.979 --> 00:23:33.799 But you must not think of God as frozen. 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:34.919 He is alive. 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:37.659 And active in all the greatness of his being. 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.919 He is so large and so great. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.659 And so free. 00:23:40.959 --> 00:23:41.779 As to be exalted. 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.979 In his being above time. 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:45.459 And he is not governed by time. 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:51.099 I want you to love this question. 00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:52.039 From the Shorter Catechism. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:56.379 Because God is a spirit. 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.839 That's point number one. 00:23:58.899 --> 00:24:00.240 And then there's three adjectives. 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:00.559 Aren't there? 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:03.079 What is God the spirit like? 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.839 He is infinite. 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.399 Eternal. 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.259 And unchangeable. 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:08.179 And then you can apply them to every point. 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.759 God is a spirit. 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.220 Infinite. 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:10.759 Infinite. 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.180 Eternal. 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.860 And unchangeable. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.480 In his being. 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:12.940 Wisdom. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.279 Power. 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:13.620 Holiness. 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.019 Justice. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.360 Goodness. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.820 And truth. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.740 That means God is eternal in his being. 00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.360 He's eternal in his wisdom. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.799 He's eternal in his power. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.060 He's eternal in his holiness. 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.560 He's eternal in his justice. 00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:24.000 He's eternal in his goodness. 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.560 He's eternal in his truth. 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.019 But let's use the word always. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.779 His being is always. 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:33.060 He always is. 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.220 He's always wise. 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.420 He's always powerful. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.620 He's always holy. 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.339 He's always just. 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.360 He's always good. 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:40.420 And he's always true. 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.759 He's the same. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.360 He's unchanging. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.759 He's not affected by time. 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:52.920 And we thank God, don't we, that he has entered the time that he created. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:59.140 And that he has acted in the time that he created without changing anything in himself. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:02.740 It's the amazing grace of God which flows from his character. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:06.539 From he who is in his eternity. 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:10.480 Who always was and always is and always will be. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.279 And so he is unchanging. 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.400 Now let's apply it to ourselves. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:18.039 And let me try and apply it to your week. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:24.460 First of all, the eternity of God silences our pride. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:29.019 It silences our pride, I hope, in several ways. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:34.680 First, some of the verses that we read earlier, they refer to the wrath of God. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:37.799 And the all-knowing wisdom of God. 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.579 He knows all things. 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:51.500 And I think one of the things it means for us today is that God knows every sin that I have ever committed. 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.359 He knows that. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.279 Because he's always the same. 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.480 He's unchanging. 00:25:58.420 --> 00:26:00.059 And he does not grow forgetful. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.700 We do. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:04.779 I have forgotten many of the sins that I've committed. 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:09.099 And we pray, don't we, David's prayer in Psalm 51. 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:11.859 Oh Lord, do not remember the sins of my youth. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:15.379 Meaning, please don't raise them against me. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:19.419 But many of my sins from my youth I've forgotten. 00:26:21.399 --> 00:26:22.559 Since God is eternal. 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:25.879 Since he was and he is and he will be. 00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:30.799 It is stupid for you to think that there are sins that God does not know about. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:33.919 It humbles our pride. 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:40.879 It humbles our pride, too, in terms of the way in which we suppress the knowledge of God. 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:44.399 And we worship and serve anything else other than God. 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:48.799 It silences our pride in the way that we try to prove that we've evolved. 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:52.019 Or that we're somehow better than we were as people. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.059 We're such a flash. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.539 We're a flash in the pan. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.119 And God is forever. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.339 We're so proud. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:04.859 And I think the eternity of God puts us in our place. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.639 It humbles us. 00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:13.219 The eternity of God, I also think, though, should have this implication and application. 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:20.739 In Ecclesiastes, we're told this glorious verse that God has set eternity in our hearts. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:27.439 Every single human being, God has put eternity in our hearts. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:32.980 It's a reminder of the way we've been made. 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.700 That he's put eternity in our hearts. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:38.320 It's a reminder that we were made to be forever. 00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:41.420 That we were made to glorify and enjoy God forever. 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:44.080 But that it's been spoiled by sin. 00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:47.200 But it's still part of human nature. 00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:49.279 It's still part of even the atheist. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:53.640 The atheist still longs to know him. 00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:57.340 And is restless until it finds its rest in him. 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:58.820 Even though he denies his existence. 00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:05.639 He's put eternity in the hearts of every human being. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.339 It's such an encouragement in our evangelism. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:09.980 We know that, don't we? 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.220 No one who says, when they say, oh, where do you want to go out today? 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.759 We've got a day off. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.220 Where do you want to go? 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.959 I'll tell you where I want to go. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.059 I want to go to the crematorium. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:19.099 No one thinks like that, do they? 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:22.939 No one thinks, oh, I love going to the funeral home. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:25.559 No one lives like that. 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.559 No one lives like that. 00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:29.919 Because we know death is horrific. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:37.220 But in our folly, in the words of Jeremiah, we've tried the broken systems. 00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:39.139 We've sought water, not the living water. 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:42.099 And it's not satisfied us, it's failed us. 00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:45.980 But you were created with eternity in your heart. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:50.639 And nothing but the eternity of God will satisfy you. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:55.059 So that you can know him and love him and serve him and adore him. 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:57.960 You know that you were made for something bigger than this life. 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:03.639 Thirdly, the eternity of God is a comfort. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.980 It should humble us. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.940 He's put eternity in our hearts, but it should comfort us. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.539 I don't know how you look at our culture. 00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:18.480 I don't know how you look at the news when you hear it. 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:21.099 It's really easy, isn't it, to be fearful. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:26.179 It's very easy to think what kind of world are our children growing up in. 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:32.000 It's really easy to think, if my children, God gives them another 20 years, 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.519 and they marry and have children of their own, 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:35.199 what kind of world are they going to be living in? 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.899 But God will still be the same. 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:42.480 And when we're surrounded by lawlessness and evil, 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:45.380 the eternity of God is such a comfort. 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:54.380 Jesus Christ will be the same in 25 years. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:30:00.220 The gospel of Jesus Christ will be the same as it is today. 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:05.500 And the God that we have found to be our comfort and our refuge, 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:08.820 the God who says, I am the everlasting God, 00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:11.440 and underneath you are the everlasting arms, 00:30:13.020 --> 00:30:14.580 25 years will be exactly the same. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:17.059 to our children's children, 00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.759 and our children's children, 00:30:19.439 --> 00:30:21.419 and for every generation, 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:24.720 until the Lord Jesus Christ comes again, 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:27.579 there is great comfort and grace for sinners. 00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:32.319 And so we do rightly look at the world, 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.439 and we can be fearful, 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:37.359 but actually we bring our children up in faith, don't we, 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:39.099 that God will be with them, not fear. 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:44.279 And the fourth and the last thing about God being eternal 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:48.159 is that the eternity of God exalts the name of Jesus Christ. 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:51.899 Because we are told that Jesus Christ is the same 00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:57.279 yesterday, today, and forever. 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.699 And we're told in Hebrews 7, 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.799 you'll see that verse on the sheet, 00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:05.099 this is the way which he's exactly like Melchizedek, 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.279 that mysterious figure in the Old Testament. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:10.399 And he has become a high priest forever, 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:12.500 because he is, by translation of his name, 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.299 King of Righteousness, King of Salem, 00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.759 that is, King of Peace, 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.940 without father or mother or genealogy. 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.359 Why? Well, he's eternal. 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:23.119 Having neither beginning of days nor end of life, 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:24.399 but resembling the Son of God, 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:26.420 he continues to be a priest forever. 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:30.359 And metaphorically, those things are applied to Melchizedek, 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:32.119 but ultimately they are true, Jesus Christ. 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:35.339 He is a priest forever. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:43.519 There is a gospel that stands forever for sinners in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.819 Revelation 14, there is an eternal gospel. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.960 And Paul, in Colossians, 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:53.980 says to the church there that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:56.620 He's the firstborn of all creation. 00:31:57.799 --> 00:32:00.700 By him all things were created in heaven and on earth, 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.799 visible and invisible, 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:05.440 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. 00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:07.700 All things were created through him, 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.319 before him, 00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:10.980 and he is before all things. 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:14.319 And in him all things hold together. 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:16.480 And he is the head of the body, 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:16.980 the church, 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.660 he's the beginning, 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.880 the firstborn from the dead, 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:22.019 that in everything he might be preeminent. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:25.480 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:27.960 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.940 whether on earth or in heaven, 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:32.359 making peace by the blood of the cross. 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:37.299 the eternity of God 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.679 takes us directly 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:42.000 to the blood of Jesus Christ 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:45.259 and the gospel that is there for us 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.740 and for our children. 00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:50.240 God is eternal. 00:32:51.479 --> 00:32:53.179 And so let us exalt Jesus Christ, 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:55.059 for he is worthy. 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.519 Let's pray. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:55.559 Let's pray. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:55.559 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:55.559 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:55.559 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:55.559