The Present Truth (UK)
May 30, 1895
The Eternal Presence
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 that 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. The Lord must keep the city, or the watchmen labour in vain. This wonderful truth was revealed by Christ during His mission on earth. PrT May 30, 1895, par. 1
Our Saviour says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it and was glad.” Fifteen hundred years before Christ laid off His royal robe and kingly crown, and left His position of honour 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. Then took they up stones to cast at Him; because of that saying.” PrT May 30, 1895, par. 2
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 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.” PrT May 30, 1895, par. 3
Speaking through Him, the Lord says, “I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee; therefore I will give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I AM with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory; I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified. Or let them hear and say, It is truth. Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour, I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I AM He; and there is none that can deliver out of Mine hand. I will work, and who shall let [hinder] it? . . . I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” Isa. xliii. 3-15. PrT May 30, 1895, par. 4
The Pharisees were horrified at this declaration of Christ's, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” They were beside themselves with rage that He should express such awful blasphemy, claiming to be the I AM. They would have stoned Him then and there, but the I AM blinded their eyes that they should not see Him, although He went out of the temple, passing through the very midst of them. As Jesus passed through the multitude, He saw a man who had been blind from his birth, and healed him. PrT May 30, 1895, par. 5
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.” “Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” PrT May 30, 1895, par. 6
Although our Lord ascended from earth to heaven, the Holy Spirit was appointed as His representative among men. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not,, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless.” Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His Father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself, divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Christ would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit,—as the Omnipresent. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall [although unseen by you] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. . . . Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” PrT May 30, 1895, par. 7
Mrs. E. G. White.