The
Psalmist asked, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him" (Psalms
8:4)? I echo his words: "Who am I, that thou are mindful of and good to
me?"
In
the scriptures, I find doctrinal gems that are glimpses into the eternities
that help me know who I truly am. Paul declared, "We are the offspring of
God" (Acts 17:29). Both Abraham and Zechariah said that God organized or formed
our spirits before this world began (Abraham 3:22 and Zechariah 12:1). Moses
spoke of a spiritual creation in heaven before mortal flesh was ever upon the
earth (Moses 3:5; see also Genesis 2:5
and Abraham 5:5). God asked Job where he
was before the foundations of this earth were laid (Job 38:4) and where he was
when "all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). To Jeremiah,
He said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee" (Jeremiah 1:5). In
Proverbs we read,
"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,
before his works of old.
"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or
ever the earth was.
"When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when
there were no fountains abounding with water.
"Before the mountains were settled, before the hills
was I brought forth:
"While as yet he had not made the earth, or the fields,
or the highest part of the dust of the world.
"When he
prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the
depth:
"When he established the clouds above: when he
strengthened the fountains of the deep:
"When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters
should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the
earth:
"Then I was
by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing
always before him;
"Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my
delights were with the sons of men." (Proverbs 8:21-31, emphasis added).
Paul
taught that God promised His children the hope of eternal life before this
world ever began (Titus 1:2). He also taught that God called us to accomplish a
special work before He laid the foundations of this earth (Ephesians 1:4 and 2
Timothy 1:9). This is likely what Paul meant when he wrote, "For whom he
did foreknow, he also did predestinate" (Romans 8:29).The Holy Spirit confirms to my spirit the truth of
these precious scriptural views of my existence before God formed this world. My
being extends into time earlier than the days of my earthly life (Job 38:21). God
is the Father of my spirit (Acts 17:29). I am literally His spirit child
(Romans 8:16). He brought me up; I was also His daily delight; I rejoiced
before Him (Proverbs 8:21-31). This wasn't some distant relationship. This was
an intimate Father to son relationship that stretched into time long before my
birth. This is where I first called Him Father (“O My Father”, Hymns, 292). He
nurtured me and taught me. When He promised me the hope of Eternal life (Titus
1:2), I shouted for joy (Job 38:7). I can only imagine what I witnessed as I
watched the miracle of creation unfold before my spirit’s eyes. Could I even
have been a minor participant in laying the foundations of this earth?
God
is mindful of me because He literally is my loving Father and I have been with
Him before. He knew me (Jeremiah 1:5) and I knew Him. I am not a mortal being
seeking a spiritual experience but I a spirit being that am experiencing
mortality.
