From the foundation of the world.
Text: Hebrews 4:3
THE PERSPECTIVE OF “TIME”
The discussion of God’s “rest” became even more involved as the author of Hebrews introduced the element of “time”. The perspective of “time” is always complex because being finite, our comprehension of “time” is always imperfect.
“Although the works were finished
from the foundation of the world.”
Hebrews 4:3d
1. God’s standpoint
a) He has the vantage of being able to comprehend “eternity”.
b) With God the past, present and the future are all interlinked.
c) His perspective of time is too profound and complex to be fully fathomed.
2. Man’s standpoint
a) Being finite, man is limited in his understanding of time.
b) He attempts to measure time but with limited success.
i) He speaks of the past (as events of history).
ii) He speaks also of the present (the here and now).
iii) He speaks of the future (with reference to “tomorrow”).
3. An idea of landmarking time
a) Man may speak of “the foundation of the world” as a landmark.
b) This landmark helps him to make concrete the idea of “time”.
c) The foundation of the world (kosmos) would mark an epoch (of time).
4. The works were finished from the foundation of the world
a) This is another complex idea that only a truly great God is capable of.
b) One idea of these “works” may be found in the concept of God’s “rest”.
c) Long before the foundation of the cosmos, God had already prepared that “rest”