Understanding the Significance of Time in God's Eternal Plan

Understanding the Significance of Time in God's Eternal Plan

The passage from Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end," emphasizes the intricate process of God's work across the expanse of time—from the beginning to the end. Many people, however, live unaware of this divine timeline and view time only within the confines of their brief earthly existence, from birth to death. They labour under the sun, often to no avail, chasing pursuits that ultimately result in vanity. The vast majority return to dust with no understanding of God's purpose and how He works through time. This ignorance leads them to spend their lives seeking meaning through temporary pleasures, material possessions, indulgences, or useless philosophies, rather than aligning with God's eternal will.

A wise individual, by contrast, is someone who understands the true significance of time and chooses to live in accordance with God's purpose, not setting their will against His. Romans 8:28 speaks to this, stating, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Take note that God’s timeline and intent extends beyond the fleeting details of our life, and in truth, encompasses all things—past, present, and future—working towards God's ultimate purpose. From before the foundation of the world to the death of Christ on Calvary, God has been shaping His plan for the good of those who love Him.

Paul further affirms this in Ephesians 1:11, where he writes that believers are predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Through time, God orchestrates all things toward a unified purpose in Jesus Christ, bringing all of history into alignment with His divine plan. Having this understanding emphasises the importance of how we should spend our time. It encourages us to live wisely, using the time we have in alignment with God's will.

How do I know if a Bible verse or passage applies to me today?

How do I know if a Bible verse or passage applies to me today?

QUESTION:

Is 1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ trans-dispensational?

ANSWER:

Before we evaluate the requested passage, let me first explain the term ‘trans-dispensational” and then provide a few examples of verses that are trans-dispensational and compare them with others that are not. I aim to provide some insights into how we can determine one from the other.

The term "trans-dispensational" refers to a concept that transcends the different dispensations, or periods of time, throughout bible history. Dispensationalism is a framework for interpreting the Bible that sees God's work and purpose as being carried out in different ways during different ages. A trans-dispensational verse, therefore, would be one that holds true and is applicable across all these dispensations, reflecting a principle or truth that is consistent throughout the entirety of Scripture, regardless of the specific time period or dispensation it addresses.

With this understanding, let’s now have a look at some verse examples and see if we can pick up some trends or insights into how to identify trans-dispensational verses from those that are not.

Does God not know the beginning from the end?

Does God not know the beginning from the end?

QUESTION:

Does God not know the beginning from the end?

REPY:

God absolutely knows the beginning from the end. God is not limited by time as He is outside of time and eternal in nature. The Bible provides several verses that emphasize God's eternal nature and His existence beyond the constraints of time: Ephesians 3:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Genesis 21:33; Psalm 100:5.

Besides direct quotes of scripture let’s also look at other content that proves God’s eternal nature and His omniscience regards knowledge of beginning and end. Consider this. Any ‘human’ plan (or project) has a specific sequence of events. One cannot build a house by starting with the roof first! (Progress through the plan in the wrong order leads to problems and probable failure). Have you ever considered the Bible being God's plan (or project) to redeem creation? In this regard, the Bible is God’s blueprint that provides the plan to follow and achieve the desired outcome. Consider the following verses, noting the indication of a plan, a start and end of it, progression and specific timings and goals, etc.