He knew beforehand

He knew.

It’s as simple as that.  It’s as basic as that.  That idea permeates everything that God has done, is doing, and will do.  If Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he died because he knew that we would sin.  Given the fact that He died thousands of years ago for us, we today obviously hadn’t committed those sins yet.  If knew that we would sin, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch in our physical based minds to state that He also knew who would answer the call and who wouldn’t.  He knew who would turn their backs on His outstretched hand, and who would take up His burden.  How much more assurance do we need then, that when He promises us something, he already knew what we would do from the time that He told us to the time the promise comes to fulfillment.  I have been living for a while now knowing full well what God has promised me and what God has called me to do.  God has told me two things for sure.  These are things I know with the very core of my being that the words came from the lips of the Almighty Himself.  First, I would be reunited with my children in all the ways that my heart desires.  Secondly, that He has called me to be a minister of the Word.  When God calls someone to do something, it isn’t a matter of a polite invitation.  He is flat out telling me, “Dave, you are going to be a minister of my word.”  If He is telling me something that will happen, then it’s not a “If I play my cards right” kind of thing, it’s a “matter of fact” kind of thing.  He knew beforehand when he told me all the things that would come to pass. 

                It’s akin to telling Barack Obama at the age of ten that one day he would be the President of the United States.  If a ten year old Obama heard that, he wouldn’t be able to see or comprehend all the social and cultural events that would have to fall into place before that statement could become a reality.  Yet if I went back in time, knowing the outcome of events, I would be to say with not just confidence but also authority what would happen.  This is exactly what it is like when God tells us what He will give or do for us.  He’s already seen what will happen because He exists in the present, the past, and the future.  He’s already seen who will do what and where it will take place.  Therefore, when He tells us what will happen, when He says, “I promise this will happen”, it’s not a time to cross our fingers and hope for the best that God was right.  It’s a time to say thanks.  Thanks for telling us what the future holds.  Thanks for telling us where you want us and what will happen.  There are times when His voice is silent to us as far as the future is concerned, because it is in these times that He wants us to exercise our faith in His will and plan for our lives.  Time is the truest test of faith, and often times our own impatience is the enemy that threatens to beat down the shoring God has placed up in our souls against the ever present threat of flooding doubt and uncertainty.