Where time does not exist—there is no beginning or end. Therefore, God does not need nor have a beginning or an end and since time is a creation it cannot partake in anything previous to itself.
That statement sounds like it comes from an early 15th century philosopher but sorry to disappoint, it’s just me. (My apologies for the double negatives.)
Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” and as we well know, that is the first verse of the Bible. It is interpreted through the Hebrew language as “God created the alphabet and the heavens and the earth.” [1]
In Genesis 1:3-5, He also said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Two important points: He first created a vehicle for His power to flow thru being the alphabet and then used that vehicle, specifically toward these verses in creating the heavens, the earth and time. In this context, time is defined as “there was evening and there was morning – the first day.”
We never questioned our multiplication times tables as they were being taught to us while simply learning them through memorization; 8 x 7=56 just because it does and it is not questioned. It has a consistent meaning; there is no room for negotiation due to it is a given mathematical equation.
For some odd reason, we become perplexed in our minds to try to squeeze God’s existence into time, when in fact He created time and as stated earlier, creation cannot partake in anything previous to its existence.
I truly don’t need to look any deeper into 1+1=2 and I’m pretty sure there are some philosophers who could write a thirty page dissertation on the complexities of that simple equation but I’m just going to believe it. I have also concluded, deep in my heart without doubt, that beginnings and ends only pertain to actions, events, beings, etc., that fall within the parameters of the creation, known as time.
Knowing this, allows me to understand without concern or doubt of God’s existence regarding no beginning or an end for two very obvious reasons. First, time is a creation and secondly, since it is a creation, Someone precedes its existence. As previously mentioned, He first created the tool, (the alphabet) to then create the heavens and the earth, night and day and the byproduct of separating light from the darkness became the existence of time.
He then gave us all creation to subdue, Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
We are able to accomplish this feat by utilizing two key instruments given to us from the Creator; the alphabet to form processes, procedures, commands and prayers and of course the instrument of time.
So in closing, where we allow this simple equation to become complex is when we misuse another God-given instrument called free will or choice. If we boil everything down to our top priorities in life, and we earnestly want to get it right in order to spend eternity at its best, I think it goes something like this:
We wake up every single morning and choose to spend the first part of the day acknowledging our Creator with our alphabet and our time. Ironically, they are the first tools that He gave us. Additionally, we now truly understand that our prayers being received by Him are being received outside of the tool known as time, thereby making everything possible with our heartfelt petitions.
John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
Let’s collectively CHOOSE (our free will) to exercise the ALPHABET, with all of its power to glorify our Creator at the start of each and every day, known as TIME.
Simply put…a successful life, one tool at a time.
Endnotes [1]
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Aleph/aleph.html
Itsreallytime.net