Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:8-12; 2 Peter 3:8-13
God created eternity, and God created time. On the first day, time was created. That was the first day of time. Time will last until the last day when Christ returns.
Where eternity is the realm of absolutes and everything is either completely good or completely bad, there time is a realm that functions as a filter. Within time, God reveals His glory and goodness gradually, over time. In time, there is also a possibility for darkness not being absolute darkness. God created the night and set the moon (the lesser light) to rule of the night. The night is not absolute darkness, but it is a situation in which the light is ‘dimmed’, not fully present. In the realm of time, God’s glory is not being revealed in its fullness, but will be revealed over time (For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears, 1 Corinthians 13:9-10). When God fully reveals His glory, time will come to an end and dissolve into eternity. Then also goodness will become absolute and complete (For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known, 1 Corinthians 13:12.)
In the realm of time, also evil has not been revealed in its fullness yet. As long as time exists, God’s goodness and glory will be there, even though it will not be seen in its fullness yet. Since evil is the absence of goodness, there evil can never be absolute as long as God’s goodness is still present. When time ends, then what is good, will become completely good, and what is evil will become absolute evil.
Time can be considered the womb of eternity. God created time to protect us from the absolutes of eternity, and to prepare us for eternity. Once we are ready for eternity, we will leave the womb of time and enter eternity. We are being prepared for eternity by living our life with God and learning from Him and getting to know Him. When we get to know His goodness, we will also get to know what evil, hate, and death is, as the absence of His goodness.
However, mankind was not satisfied with having God as Teacher and believed he knew it better than God. Even though mankind didn’t know the full power of evil, in his childish immaturity he decided he was able to handle the full power of evil. He could not, and that brought death and evil into this creation because mankind turned away from God, the Creator, to something that was too powerful for him.
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 13:9-10: For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Meditation: Our knowing here on earth is limited, as is our ability to understand. We only have a small beginning of knowledge and understanding. What does that teach us regarding our attitude towards the Word of God (See Deuteronomy 29:29)?