The Circle

Bible Reading: PSALM 90:1-4; 2 PETER 3:8

Cora was always full of questions—questions like: How many animals were on the ark? How did Jonah keep from drowning in the whale’s tummy? How far away are the stars? Can we take a trip to one of them?

One day Cora came to her mother with another question. “Mom, who made God?” “Nobody,” her mother answered.

“Then where did God come from?” asked Cora.

“He didn’t come from anywhere—He just always was,” Mom said. “I’m afraid I can’t explain it so that you can really understand, honey.”

“But He had to come from somewhere,” Cora insisted.

Mom shook her head. “Our minds are not as great as God’s mind, and there are some things we can’t understand this side of heaven,” she replied. “For now we just have to accept the fact that God has no beginning or end. He always existed and always will exist.”

Mom hesitated and then took off her wedding ring. “Maybe this will help you,” she said, handing it to Cora. “I want you to tell me where this ring begins and where it ends.” Mom motioned to the shiny gold band.

Cora looked at the perfect circle. “It doesn’t start or stop anywhere. It’s a circle— it doesn’t have a beginning or an end.”

“And that’s like God, Cora. God is eternal. He never had a beginning, and He has no ending. We think of our lives in minutes and days and weeks and years, but with God, it isn’t like that. The Bible says that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.”

“Oh,” said Cora uncertainly. Then she smiled. “Okay. I’ll try to remember that God is like this ring,” she said as she handed it back to her mother. “He has no beginning or end.”

“That’s right,” said Mom, “and God’s love is like that too. Even though He’s eternal, Jesus was willing to become human and die for our sins so we could be saved and live with Him forever. No matter what, His love for us will never end.” CHARLES VANDERMEER

How About You?

Aren’t you glad God is too great for a human mind to fully understand? That’s one of the things that makes Him God! It’s good to ask questions and learn about Him from the Bible, but don’t worry if you can’t understand how He could have no beginning or end. He is greater than we can imagine, and we can trust Him. Thank Him for being so great and wonderful—and for loving you so much.

Today’s Key Verse:
PSALM 90:2 FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, YOU ARE GOD. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God is eternal.