The Bible starts where you might expect, the beginning. As a story primarily about God’s creation and His redemption of His creation, the beginning of that creation is a good place to start. However, there was something before the beginning.

No, this isn’t a reference to some prequel like the Phantom Menace in Star Wars. What existed before the beginning?

God.

As we see in John 1, before God created anything, before the beginning, was God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has no beginning and no end. He is eternal.

Eternity is a hard concept. I can understand things that begin and end. After all, everything we know has a beginning and end (except God). I can even sort of grasp the idea of no end. Something that has no beginning, however, blows my mind. God has no beginning. He just is. This gives us a little insight into why God calls Himself “I Am that I Am” when Moses asks His name.

Ok. Fun Fact, But Why Do I Care?

For all of us, our origin impacts us. For some, it impacts social status. However, we have our parent’s genes. Going deeper, we all have God’s fingerprints on us. This identifies us, but it also limits us. We cannot do anything we want, we can do what our genes allow us. We have life, but only because God gives it to us and sustains us.

God is different. He has no one’s genes nor did anyone create Him? He is not limited. He is not sustained by an outside force. He is and continues by His own power and authority. Thus, He will never end nor can anyone or anything overpower Him. 

So, when God promises something, you can count on it. Nothing can stop Him from fulfilling His promises. Even promises that are impossible for us, like raising the dead, are no problem for God.

Almighty and Eternal Father,

You are God. You have no beginning or end. You are almighty, all-knowing, and all-present. Your promises are sure. I know my trust in You is never misplaced. Hold me firm in the faith. Remind me that when things go in ways I don’t like, You are still God and Your promises are still sure.

Amen.