“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit…” (Isaiah 57:15).,

One of the names of God revealed in the Bible is El Olam (Genesis 21:33).  It is not a common name, but it does have great significance.  It essentially means “God the Everlasting One.”  It refers to the eternal nature of God, who exists beyond the constraints of time.  The Hebrew word olam literally refers to something concealed, hidden, or vanishing.  It is a picture of eternal duration.  You look back into the past until history vanishes, and God is there.  You look into the future until existence is hidden from view, and God is there.  The Psalmist speaks of this everlasting nature of God in Psalm 90:2.  You could render this verse, “from vanishing point to vanishing power, you are God.”  There is no end to the scope of God’s being.

There are indications in the Scriptures that God is not only eternal in the sense that He possesses infinite duration, but He is also outside and above time itself.  Time had a beginning (Genesis 1:1).  God has no beginning.  In fact, time is meaningless to God (2 Peter 3:8).  As Isaiah noted, God inhabits eternity (see above), basically the prophet says that eternity is qualitatively something different than time.  But perhaps most telling of all is God’s Covenant Name, Yahweh.  He is the I AM—the One who exists in an eternal present, the everlasting NOW.

As interesting as this may be (at least I think it is), there is a practical application to this truth.  It makes a difference in our lives that God is El Olam.  For example, those who are born again share in the very life of God himself (1 John 3:9, 2 Peter 1:4).  And since God is eternal, they also possess eternal life (John 5:24).  The eternal nature of God is also exciting because of what it means for prayer.  There are no time limits on prayer.  You may pray something today, and the answer comes 50 years from now, long after you are dead.  Who knows, God may be answering prayers right now that people prayed 1000 years ago.

One of the most significant reasons to consider God’s eternal nature is the comfort it brings us.  God knows your future in intimate detail.  There is no need to worry about it.  Do not fret about it.  And do not try to control it.  God already knows it, and it is in His providential care.  This also means that NOTHING catches Him by surprise.  You may be upset by unforeseen circumstances.  To Him, nothing is unforeseen.  So, when something catches you off guard, remember, He already knows about it!

Another thought is this: You have His undivided attention.  We know that kids long for this.  Indeed, all of us do from time to time.  This is especially true when we feel lonely, rejected, or abandoned.  We want somebody to see us, to take notice of our pain or concern.  Wouldn’t it be great to have someone to focus entirely on you?  It won’t happen with any human being.  No person can do that (as much as we might wish them to).  But God can.  Being outside time, all He does is eternal.  You have His undivided attention.  The eternal gaze, His never-ending thought, is fixed on you.  If that doesn’t give you some comfort and strength, I don’t know what will.  (But don’t get a big head.  His eternal gaze is on each one of us!)

I hope this encourages you today.  The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Eternal Deity, El Olam—He is the One who loves you, cares for you, and watches over you.  Rest in His eternal and infinite gaze.