“And God said to Moses ‘I AM WHO I AM'”………….  Exodus 3:14

“I am the resurrection and the life.”    John 11:25

 

We change.  Depending on our stage in life, physically we may be adding cells leading to growth in our systems like skeletal, muscular, etc.  In other cases we are losing cells (except in my case the cells around my middle…heavy sigh) faster than we are gaining them.  We may change through our experiences, adding to our wisdom or perhaps our cynicism depending on our point of view.  Our actions may change based on our access to resources to acquire things, to move and see things, to share things.  In so many ways; ways we want to, ways we don’t want to, ways we hope to, ways we fear, we change.

Because we change, our outlook is linear.  We think and act in terms of time.  We analyze and we plan.  As we look at today, we say today is largely based on what has happened prior to today to bring me here as well as a significant part of today should be spent planning to impact the “today” which will come tomorrow.  If we are not careful, the amount of time we focus today, in analyzing the previous todays, and the amount of time we focus today, on what the next day’s “today” should be like, will leave us precious little today to actually experience today (Sorry if you need to read that again and if it still makes no sense, write it off to a lack of my second cup of coffee).

So first, I am not stating that there is no value in contemplating the past or thinking about, even planning for the future.  I believe repentance demands that we look at our past actions to understand the nature and impact of our specific sins; thus allowing us to express,  both the sorrow in our confession and desire to change.  In fulfilling God’s plan, Solomon had to plan how to complete the temple, Paul had plans to go to Rome, Jesus Christ planned to go to Jerusalem.

Yet here is the mystery, at least for me.  God, and in God I mean God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit, exist in a realm where time, may not exist at all or if it does, is completely irrelevant.  In God’s first direct encounter with Moses; He states that He is the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  Jesus Christ would later use this quote to show the Sadducees where they were wrong in saying there was no resurrection.  In naming those historical names He stated them in the present tense.  It also seems to me that in stating it in that way, He is also saying, I AM the same God.  It seems He was telling Moses; during a time, you would call the past, I AM, the exact same Perfect I AM that is before you today.  Jesus Christ stands before Mary, Martha, His disciples and others gathered at Lazarus’s tomb.  Jesus tells them that Lazarus will rise.  Martha believes Jesus, but she is thinking linearly.  She says:  “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (italics added).  Jesus does not mean it linearly.  “I AM  the resurrection and the life.”, Jesus responds (bold and italics added).  To punctuate his statement; He raises Lazarus right then and there.

Proverbs and Jesus Christ teach us, that while it is not a sin to plan, to be careful about how much worry and focus we put on our own plans.  Are we seeking in our plans and more importantly today; living to seek first the Kingdom of God.  It is often eloquently stated in the Psalms and Jesus teaches as well, not to dwell, especially concerning the pain and sinfulness of past.  For in believing in Him and following Him, today we are new and our past is forgiven and forgotten.

I certainly can’t grasp, let alone explain the mystery of I AM.  The ability to be eternally present, at every point in history, at exactly the same time (even words are inadequate to describe the concept…at least for me).  The power IS that God is  with me; ALWAYS.  Knowing that I am in a linear existence; His plans are set up that way.  There are people I am supposed to meet, places I will be and so many other things I can’t even begin to think about.  But and this is the important But, He knows, because He has been there.  For Him, what is now and what will be is a simultaneous existence.  And the Promise is the I AM.  I AM will never forsake you.  I AM will never stop loving you.  I AM is my resurrection; TODAY.

The world tells us we are a product of our past and our destiny is in the future.  The world wants to elevate the importance of me to the pinnacle, saying if I will study my past to learn from it and focus on planning my future, I will truly be successful.  Our Heavenly Father asks; Believe that I AM.  Yesterday, today and tomorrow, I AM the same I AM.  I Am the perfect Creator, I AM the perfect Sustainer, I AM the only Resurrection.  I AM Love.

Our Most Gracious and Heavenly Father.  As I pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…..”, help me to see the “as it is in heaven” is eternal.  Guide me to an existence where I live, knowing that you are “I AM” even if I can’t understand it.  Lead me from the temptation, Heavenly Father, to stray from Your, I AM, to my own, I was and I will be.  Give me a humble spirit, that seeks to obey and constantly praises the relationship of I AM.  And thank you Most Gracious Heavenly Father, that through Your Mercy, Grace and Love, You have decided to be my I AM.  In the name of Jesus Christ I/we pray.

Amen