The Eternity of God—Anchored in the Timeless One
Have you ever felt the tension between the fleeting nature of time and the deep, unshakable longing for something eternal? Maybe it hits you in quiet moments—when you watch a sunset, hold a newborn, or stand at the graveside of a loved one. In those moments, something within us seems to whisper: "Surely this isn’t all there is."
A.W. Tozer, in Chapter 7 of The Knowledge of the Holy, reminds us why this longing exists: we were made for eternity. The ache for permanence, the thirst for meaning—it’s not an illusion or a flaw. It’s a mark of God’s image within us, an echo of eternity placed in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Let’s sit with this truth today: God is eternal. He stands outside of time, unbound by beginnings and endings. In a world that constantly changes, His eternity is our anchor, our home, and our hope.
The Timelessness of God
Tozer opens this chapter with a thought worth meditating on:
"The mind looks backward in time till the dim past vanishes, then turns and looks into the future till thought and imagination collapse from exhaustion: and God is at both points, unaffected by either."
Our entire experience of life is framed by time—yesterday, today, tomorrow. Yet God dwells outside of this. He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9), existing in an eternal now. There is no “before” or “after” with Him.
Psalm 90:2 declares:
"Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."
God’s eternal nature means He never began to exist and will never cease to be. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). Time flows out of Him, but He Himself remains unchanging, undiminished, and eternal.
Our Longing for the Eternal
Why does this matter to us? Because we, too, were created for eternity. Tozer writes:
"To be made for eternity and forced to dwell in time is for mankind a tragedy of huge proportions. All within us cries for life and permanence, and everything around us reminds us of mortality and change."
We long for what endures—relationships that won’t be torn apart, purpose that won’t fade, and a life that lasts forever. These desires aren’t meaningless; they are God-given.
Augustine captures this idea beautifully when he says:
"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
This ache for the eternal reminds us that we were made for more than this fleeting life. It pulls us toward the One who alone is everlasting.
The Gospel: Eternity Stepping into Time
Here’s where the beauty of the gospel shines brightest:
Out of eternity, Jesus stepped into time.
When Christ entered our world, He didn’t just teach us about eternity—He made a way for us to share in it. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).
Because of Him:
Death is no longer the end (John 11:25-26).
Our fleeting days find meaning in His eternal purposes (Psalm 90:12).
Our longing for permanence is satisfied in a relationship with the eternal God (John 17:3).
Tozer points out that faith in Christ is not optional. Our lives are slipping through our fingers, but the eternity we face—whether with God or separated from Him—lasts forever.
As Paul says:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Living in Light of God’s Eternity
So, what does God’s eternity mean for us today?
God Is Our Dwelling Place
Moses declares in Psalm 90:1:
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.”
Time may change everything around us, but God remains our unshakable home. In Him, we find stability, safety, and rest.Our Lives Have Eternal Significance
In light of eternity, our “short” lives here are incredibly meaningful. Moses prays:
“Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Every moment, every relationship, and every act of love done for Christ carries eternal weight (1 Corinthians 15:58).We Live with Eternal Hope
When trials come, when loss feels unbearable, when the passing of time weighs heavy, we can look beyond this life to eternity with Christ. Paul assures us:
“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
God’s eternity assures us that this life—no matter how painful or temporary—is not the end of the story.
Conclusion: Anchored in Eternity
In a world that changes, fades, and comes to an end, God’s eternity is our anchor. He is the One who always was, who always is, and who always will be. When we come to Him through Christ, we find the life, permanence, and hope our souls have been longing for.
Let’s echo Moses’ prayer:
"Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."
And let’s live today—here in time—fully anchored in the God of eternity.
Reflection Question:
How does knowing God is eternal bring you comfort in a world that feels so temporary?
Closing Thought:
“From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Let this truth be the anchor that holds you steady, the hope that sustains you, and the joy that leads you into eternity.