From Everlasting to Everlasting

Psalm 90:1-2

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

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How are we to think and feel during uncertain times? When our circumstances seem out of our control; pandemics, natural disaster, economic downturns, or any other number of situations and scenarios. As Christians, how are we to think and feel when life’s circumstances are out of our control?

Psalm 90:1-2 reminds us of at least two great truths. One by implication and one by declaration. The implication flows from the declaration. The declaration is, "from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” From before time begin to the end of human history the sovereign one, God, has been and will always be.

As we went on a walk this spring morning, the sounds of spring echoed in creation, and God’s creation was declaring his glory. I couldn’t help but remember the Lord, the everlasting God, is still seated on his throne. There is no pandemic or any other situation that will alter this unchanging truth—from everlasting to everlasting you are God! He is in control and he can be trusted.

This does not change the global reality of the pandemic any more than it changes other matters out of our control, but it does serve as an opportunity to reorient ourselves. The God of the universe who is sovereign over all situations and scenarios delights and cares for his people. Not only does he delight in us, he gives us good gifts. Let’s consider three. He provides for us the gift of one another, the presence of his spirit, and the treasure that is his word!

While we are not able to gather regularly to remind one another of these great truths, it does not mean we cannot encourage one another. We can pray for one another, by name, using the membership directory. We can facetime one another or have a virtual meeting with one another using any number of apps technology provides us. We can call one another (yes, your phone has that function!) for encouragement and prayer. We can pray with thanksgiving that we feel the loss of not gathering together—the Lord is building a people for himself at UBC and his saints long to be together. My grandfather used to regularly tell my cousin and I as our weekends would conclude, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Not being together for a period makes us treasure being together all the more. I pray that is true of you as it is for our family.

As we think about the presence of his spirit and the treasure of his word we can and should look to the Lord in his Word for understanding, growth, and holiness during these days. Pray before, during, and after you open God’s word that he would give you ears to hear and eyes to see him in his word. Many of us find ourselves with the perception of extra time (more work, more idle time, more worry, etc.). What if we committed to one another to leverage our extra time for more of Him! The one who is from everlasting to everlasting! He is God and he delights in his people! He is making us holy day by day as we await the coming of the Lord Jesus. He is completing the good work that he began in you! He is from everlasting to everlasting! Open God’s word and meditate on who he is and how he is using this season in your own life to make you more like his son, Jesus.

The implication that flows from the declaration is simply, you (and I) were and are never in control. All things are subject under the headship of Christ. All things are under his sovereign rule and reign. This does not mean we throw up our hands or fail to heed the pleas of those in authority over us. Quite the contrary, we pray for those who are in authority over us and we press in to God’s rule and reign over all things. We learn to trust him, his ways, and his plans for us in the midst of things we do not yet, and may never, understand. You are not in control. I recognize this may be a news flash for some of us who like the appearance of control, order, and regularity. Look again to Psalm 90:1-2, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” The people of God find their dwelling place in the presence of the Lord. This was true as the psalmist proclaimed, “Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” This is true of us today, the Lord is our dwelling place in whom we find rest, hope, trust, security, safety, fullness of life, and joy—no matter our circumstance. Let us encourage one another all the more as we see the Day of the Lord approaching. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God, and we will trust you and hope only in you. Brothers and sisters, I long to gather with you again soon, but until then let us use this time wisely to wage war against sin and look full on his wonderful face.

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Father, it is our delight to be found in you and to hope in you. We are reminded of the song, He Will Hold Me Fast, and to you we proclaim, “he’ll not let my soul be lost, he promises shall last, bought by him at such as cost, he will hold me fast!” Hold us fast Lord that we might delight in your presence and know your ways. You are from everlasting to everlasting the God of all creation and we worship you. Amen.

~ written by Stephen Martin