A KEY SCRIPTURE

Genesis 21:33 "Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God." (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

	Abraham planted a tamarisk tree - known to give shade in arid places, providing for physical needs.
	Abraham declared his spiritual well being in "the Eternal" he knew to be his shelter and supply.
	Abraham called on the name of the Lord, YAHWEH, the God who keeps covenant.
	Abraham used a descriptive name for God - ELOHIM - meaning the "almighty", "the everlasting God."
	Abraham in this way expresses the thought of the eternal duration of the being of God.

In Psalm 90:2 we have a word that says "even from everlasting to everlasting You are God." The Eternal is stated to be the "dwelling place" of His people in Psalm 90:1, and the Hebrew for this phrase is translated "refuge" in Psalm 71:3. The great truth of God's eternity brings to God's people relief in the midst of transience and mortality. While all else fades, vanishes and fails, from eternity to eternity He is God - the unchanging, secure, satisfying home and refuge of His people, the ever present help (Psalm 46:1 ).

Abraham, by calling on the everlasting God expressed that he sought and hoped for everlasting things (John 8:56; Hebrews 11:10 ). Believers' everlasting things included eternal life (John 17:3 ); eternal preservation (John 10:27-28 ); eternal likeness to the Son (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2 ); eternal co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17 ); eternal possessions (Hebrews 10:34 ); eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17 ); eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11 ).

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Exodus 3:14 "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

The Lord God revealed Himself by His awesome name I AM. He is the Eternal now, this is the assertion of pure existence excluding all measurement of time. The name expresses,

"not abstract existence, but active manifestation of existence ... not what God will be in Himself ... but what He will approve Himself to others ... He will be to Moses and His people what He will be - but which ... will prove to be more that words can express." Cambridge Bible.

In expressing that He is the eternal - the absolute God - He is made known as acting with unfettered, unlimited ability. Moses and the Israelites knew God present in power in the series of terrible judgments on Egypt and in their miraculous release out of bondage to Pharaoh. Knowledge of Him as always "I AM" should cause us as His people, to count on Him to exercise His power for us. We can only bow in reverence for this revelation of the everlasting God who has existed from all eternity.

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This Revealed Truth Is Our Support

Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; '" (NKJV)

Living in the reality of the surrounding, supporting arms of the Eternal keeps us from harm, discouragement, failure and causes us to triumph.

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This Revealed Truth Is Our Security

Psalms 102:12, 25-28 "But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations.25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. 28 The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You." (NKJV)

When we say God is eternal in contrast with His creation, like the psalmist, we are expressing our confidence in Him. He continues, therefore His faithfulness remains.

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This Revealed Truth Is Our Subject

Psalms 145:11-13 "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations." (NKJV)

Under the glorious government of the eternal King, we experience His splendour, goodness and everlasting providential care, causing our talk not only to be of His provision, but of His righteousness, holiness, greatness and ever availability ( Isaiah 45:13; 44:6; 57:15 ).

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalms 50:12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness." (NKJV)

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

The Eternal, described as "the Mighty One, God the LORD" (Psalm 50:1 ) is the owner of all and the Judge of all. The loyalty He expects of His people is not just outward obedience expressed in its ritual performance, the Lord wants wholehearted, intimate relationship. Sadly, we can be faithful in making sacrifices, and withhold true love and devotion (Psalm 50:8 ).

The Eternal makes it clear that He is independent of everything about Him. He does not suffer hunger, if He did He would He would not have to ask man for anything (Psalm 50:12 ). If He derived nourishment from meat, He could not want - all the cattle, all the birds, all the fullness of the world, belong to Him (Psalm 50:10-12 ). All created beings are dependent on the eternal Creator. He is unconscious of need. The psalmist's words give us a description of the self-sufficiency of God.

The gift acceptable to the Eternal is that of simple gratitude. Thanksgiving and praise glorify God the bountiful giver of all. He fully provided for all our physical and spiritual needs (Psalm 50:14, 23 ). When the glory is not offered thankfully to God it is an assertion of self-glory which is self-deception.

The Eternal would have us be keepers of our vows of love, worship, service, and devotion (Psalm 50:14 ). God loves to answer the prayers of His promise-keepers (Psalm 50:15 ). He is glorified in those who order their "conduct aright" (Psalm 50:23 ), to whom is shown the salvation of God.

By asserting the revelation that God is eternal we are saying He has no beginning or end, that He is the self-existent one, that He is independent of everything. All creation and all created beings are dependent on the eternal Lord God.