The Great I Am

[Thompson, Darryl]

The Great I Am 

     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 {See Ex. 3:14.} 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"
(Isa. 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" (Isa, 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.  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 12