'As I Was, So I Will Be!'
God's eternal presence and unchanging nature are a source of comfort and assurance for us, even in times of transition and uncertainty.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the eternal nature of God as the great Antecedent, asserting that our understanding of God must recognize His constant presence and precedence in all things. He illustrates this through the story of Joshua, who, after the death of Moses, needed reassurance that God's faithfulness remains unchanged. Tozer highlights that while human leaders may pass away, the God they served continues to be with His people, affirming His promise: 'As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.' This message encourages believers to trust in the unchanging nature of God amidst life's transitions.
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For all things, God is the great Antecedent! Because He is, we are and everything else is. We cannot think rightly of God until we begin to think of Him as always being there-and being there first! Joshua had this to learn. He had been so long the servant of God's servant Moses, and had with such assurance received God's word at his mouth, that Moses and the God of Moses had become blended in his thinking; so blended that he could hardly separate the two thoughts. By association they always appeared together in his mind.
Now Moses is dead and lest the young Joshua be struck down with despair God spoke to assure him: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee!" Moses was dead, but the God of Moses still lived!
Nothing had changed and nothing had been lost, for nothing of God dies when a man of God dies. "As I was-so I will be." Only the Eternal God could say this!
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Eternal Presence
- A. God is the Antecedent of all things
- B. He is always there, first and foremost
- II. Separating God from His Servants
- 'A. Joshua''s mistake: blending God with His servants'
- 'B. God''s assurance: ''As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee!'''
- III. The Unchanging Nature of God
- A. God's word remains true despite the death of His servants
- B. The Eternal God remains unchanged
Key Quotes
“For all things, God is the great Antecedent!” — A.W. Tozer
“Moses was dead, but the God of Moses still lived!” — A.W. Tozer
“Only the Eternal God could say this!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We can trust in God's faithfulness and rely on His promises, even when circumstances change.
- God's eternal presence is a source of comfort and strength for us in times of uncertainty.
- We must separate God from His servants and recognize His unique character and nature.