‘And God said to Moses, “ I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘ I AM has sent me to you.’ ” ‘ Exodus 3:14
Over the last couple days I have been rereading, listening to the audiobook, “The Shack.” During one of Mac’s conversations with either Jesus or Papa, He is asked where he spends the majority of his time, in the past, the future,or the present? After a short period of thinking about it he replied that he seems to spend more time either in the past or worrying about the future than he actually does in the present. When I myself thought about this question, I was challenged just as Mac was when I realized that I also tend to spend more time in the past or future. As I considered this, it came to my mind that God had told Moses to tell the Israelites a very specific name when he went back to Egypt to free them. That name was “I AM.” So why is that name so important to this question about the past, present, and future?
It’s actually simple grammar!
God’s name is not “I Was” as if He is only in the past.
It isn’t “I Will be,” indicating He is only in the future.
His name is “I AM,” thus He IS in the PRESENT.
That being said, in reality for God, there is no such a thing as the past or future. He exists outside of time, so ALL time is the Present.
What does this mean for you and I?
Just as He is in the present, that is where we need to live “in Him.” There is no amount of guilt, shame or regret that can change what we have done or what others have done to us in the past. Likewise, there is no amount of worry, fear, or anxiety that will positively impact the future. All that is in our control is our choices in the present and how we respond to the circumstances that we are faced with. Ultimately, we find the greatest blessing in our lives when we are submitted and joined and in unity with the Lord. We need to remember verses like:
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23
Finally, in short, He wants us to know Him as the “I AM” as we grow in faith and dependence on Him on a day to day and moment by moment basis.