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The Great I Am, January 6
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham
was, I am.
John 8:58
.
I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike
with God. He sees the most remote events of past history and the far distant
future with as clear a vision as we do those things which are transpiring
daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute
to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and
trust in the great I AM.... Our Saviour says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced
to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (
John 8:56
). Fifteen hundred
years before Christ laid off His royal robe, His kingly crown, and left His
position of honor in the heavenly courts, assumed humanity, and walked
a man among the children of men, Abraham saw His day, and was glad.
“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast
thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am” (
verses 57, 58
)....
Christ was using the great name of God that was given to Moses to
express the idea of the eternal presence Isaiah also saw Christ, and his
prophetic words are full of significance. He says, “For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (
Isaiah 9:6
). Speaking through
him, the Lord says, “I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour.... Fear not: for
I am
with thee.... I, even I, am the Lord; and beside
me there is no saviour.... Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am
God. Yea, before the day was I am he.... I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the creator of Israel, your King” (
Isaiah 43:3-15
).... When Jesus came to
our world, He proclaimed Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (
John 14:6
)....
The Lord must be believed and served as the great “I AM,” and we
must trust implicitly in Him
[13]
12
Letter 119, 1895
.
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