God is Forever
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Key Verse: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Selected Scripture: |
THIS INSPIRED PSALM, although possibly drawn from Israel’s wilderness experiences, commences with a sense of trust and security that believers throughout human history realize under God’s protective care.—Ps. 90:1
Our Key Verse declares the Heavenly Father is without beginning or end and, as the intelligent first cause of all creation, he is unchangeable and worthy of supreme honor and reverence.
“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.”—vss. 3-5
The foregoing verses affirm important Biblical teachings, some of which have been misunderstood through the ages, including death as a condition of peaceful unconsciousness resulting from the disobedience of father Adam.
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”—vss. 10-12
Human life is very brief when compared to God’s eternal existence. Such being the case, it is wise for mankind to strive to practice godly principles during his earthly sojourn so that he will be less defiled when awakened from the tomb.
We are assured that the human family will rise from the dead during God’s kingdom. “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth.” (John 5:28,29, New American Standard Bible) Since it is God’s intent that all people should be saved from death and come to a knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:3,4), this period will provide a favorable opportunity for all to repent of their sins and come into harmony with the divine law. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:10
Since Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers have received an invitation to participate in a heavenly calling to be joint-heirs with Christ in heaven and to bestow blessings to the human family during God’s kingdom. (Heb. 3:1) By applying the principles of righteousness and sacrificial living, the Lord’s people throughout this Gospel Age have been strengthened by a realization that not only has the Heavenly Father been our strength and fortress but, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”—Rom. 8:31
May we ever realize the import of the Apostle Paul’s counsel—“Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”—Heb. 11:6