“Who is Jesus?” I heard a little girl ask her mother.
Her mom thought a moment, then answered. “He was a good man who lived a long, long time ago.”
This young mother’s answer wasn’t inherently wrong, but it was woefully incomplete. Let's look at a verse that captures the essence of God much more accurately.
First, he describes himself as “the one who is.” This phrase has the power to calm our troubled hearts when we feel like the world is spinning out of control. When we wonder whether God truly exists. When our fears loom large and our faith hides under the bed.
This verse answers our anxious plea, “God, where are you?” with the beautiful truth, I’m right here.
John penned the book of Revelation in the first century after Christ’s resurrection. The Roman government was persecuting the early church, at least one pastor had been martyred, and John himself was exiled to the island of Patmos. It was a turbulent and frightening time.
But God came to John in a vision and reminded him, I am here. I was crucified. I died. I was buried. I rose and ascended into heaven, but I haven’t ceased to exist. I am actively involved in everything that happens. Fear not.
God’s second description of himself, the one “who was,” identifies him as the self-existing one. By using this phrase, God removes a tremendous burden from our shoulders. He tells us we don’t have to figure out what’s right and wrong, because he’s already done it for us.
When he designed the world, he put laws and principles in place that are true and right. When we obey these principles, we reap the benefits of his wisdom. Genesis 1:1 reminds us, “In the beginning, God . . .”
Because the world began with God, not mankind, he’s the ultimate authority. One day, every person, leader, government, and spiritual force will answer to him. By basing our lives on his Word, we can make decisions with confidence, knowing our choices please him.
Finally, by describing himself as the one “who is to come,” God gives us hope to hang our weary hats upon.
One day, God will come in power and authority to right every wrong. He’ll judge the ungodly, reward the faithful, and set up a kingdom that will never end. He’ll banish sin, sickness, and Satan, and defeat the power of death once and for all. He’ll wipe every tear from our eyes. Best of all, he’ll gather us to himself, reunite us with our believing loved ones, and reward us for our faithfulness.
As you ponder the truth that Jesus is “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come,” walk boldly into your day. Remember that we serve the God who created the world, is actively present in it, and will one day come again. Nothing is truer than this. Like John on the island of Patmos, we can stake our lives on it.
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