“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.” (Psalm 90:1–2, ESV)
What is Eternity?
It’s really difficult for us to comprehend eternity. Everything we know, and every experience we have, is in relation to things that are NOT eternal. So, I want to explain God’s eternity in layers—taking it one step at a time.
No Beginning or End
The first way Scripture describes God is that he is without beginning or end. The Bible begins, saying, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). If God created the “beginning,” it means he existed before the beginning, which means he had no beginning.
The Gospel of John speaks this was too: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, ESV). Again, God already “was” in the beginning. He existed before the beginning. He has no beginning.
Yet, Scripture also speaks about God having no end. In Psalm 102 it says, “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:25–27, ESV). Everything will pass away, but God will remain. His years will have no end.
The Psalm I shared at the beginning ties all of this together saying, “…from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1–2, ESV). God is from everlasting—with no beginning—and to everlasting—with no end.
Outside of Time
Scripture also speaks about God as existing “outside of” or “above” time. In Psalm 90 it says, “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4, ESV). 2 Peter 3 references this Psalm saying: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8, ESV). Both passages speak as if God exists above time. A thousand years may pass by on earth, but they are like a few minutes or hours to God—like a watch in the night.
A Little Philosophy
Forgive me for getting a little philosophical for a moment, but I think it is important to make this point. Not only does scripture speak of God as existing above time, but it is a necessary conclusion for a being that has no beginning and no end—who existed before anything else existed.
Here’s how Wayne Grudem explains this: “The study of physics tells us that matter and time and space must all occur together: if there is no matter, there can be no space or time either. Thus, before God created the universe, there was no ‘time,’ at least not in the sense of a succession of moments one after another. Therefore, when God created the universe, he also created time.” (Systematic Theology, p. 169). When we recognize that God created time “in the beginning,” we also must recognize that God existed before there was time and exists above time.
Stick With Me and Worship
I realize this can get confusing. However, I also think this should bring us to our knees in worship and awe of our God. He is so much greater than we could ever imagine. As we get to know him more fully, we should constantly be blown away by His complexity and beauty. So, stick with me a little longer and worship.
Eternally Present
When we talk about God existing “outside of” or “above” time, there is a temptation to picture God as an impersonal, static being. We’ve never encountered anything that exists outside of time. However, understanding that God exists outside of time doesn’t remove him from us, but it brings him closer to us. Because He exists outside of time, he can be eternally present with His people.
Here’s how Herman Bavinck describes this: “A true analogy of it is not the contentless existence of a person for whom, as a result of idleness or boredom, grief or fear, the minutes seem like hours and the days do not go but creep. The analogy lies rather in the abundant and exuberant life of the cheerful laborer, for whom time barely exists and days fly by…God’s eternity does not stand, abstract and transcendent, above time, but is present and immanent in every moment of time.” (Reformed Dogmatics, 163).
King of Ages
All of this brings us to the point of acknowledging that time is in God’s hands. He exists above time. He created time. He is in control of time. Every moment of every day rests in the palm of our Father’s hands.
God is not only eternally present in the small moments of every day, but every season of history—every age. God is eternally present right now, at this moment in history. He is also present at the end of history—when Christ will bring the fullness of his redemption. Each of these moments are present before his eyes right now. This is why we praise Him by saying: “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17, ESV).