that nothing can constrain God is not speculation, because it is written, for Him nothing is impossible. neither is it that He chooses to operate in the framework of the universe He created, because it is clearly seen that we wait for Him now; that just as He appeared at just the right time, He will also return at exactly that time which is perfect.
the difference between speculation and inference is incontrovertible evidence and clear logic, as opposed to things we cannot fully understand & so cannot fully justify.
we do not understand time. in this universe it seems inescapable, fundamental, but it also cannot be touched or measured directly - we derive it from the apparent changes in the relative positions of all the matter and energy of the universe, but we don't independently observe it, outside of motion - that is, outside of a differential between two observed arrangements of matter. we can't perceive the difference between physical motionlessness and timelessness.
So what can we say about God and time based on what we can see?
we know He speaks of the future as though it is already the past ((Isaiah 46:10, Romans 4:17)) and we know He does His works in time, even though He finished them before He made the world ((Hebrews 9:26, Revelation 13:8)) - are these opposing one another? they may seem to be, but they cannot be, because He is God. so they are a mystery, yet to be shown to us. God is both wholly separate from time ((He is therefore not equal to time)) and it is His pleasure to do His will in time - while that will is also done as though it is itself not in time at all but eternal.
"His arm is not shortened" - He is not rendered incapable of action by being independent of time. He reveals Himself and His work to us using time, and that person and that work He reveals, are operating both throughought and without time.
in the same way, Paul, He is independent of space, for the Word says both "nothing is hidden from Him" and "seek Him while He may be found"
the difference between speculation and inference is incontrovertible evidence and clear logic, as opposed to things we cannot fully understand & so cannot fully justify.
we do not understand time. in this universe it seems inescapable, fundamental, but it also cannot be touched or measured directly - we derive it from the apparent changes in the relative positions of all the matter and energy of the universe, but we don't independently observe it, outside of motion - that is, outside of a differential between two observed arrangements of matter. we can't perceive the difference between physical motionlessness and timelessness.
So what can we say about God and time based on what we can see?
we know He speaks of the future as though it is already the past ((Isaiah 46:10, Romans 4:17)) and we know He does His works in time, even though He finished them before He made the world ((Hebrews 9:26, Revelation 13:8)) - are these opposing one another? they may seem to be, but they cannot be, because He is God. so they are a mystery, yet to be shown to us. God is both wholly separate from time ((He is therefore not equal to time)) and it is His pleasure to do His will in time - while that will is also done as though it is itself not in time at all but eternal.
"His arm is not shortened" - He is not rendered incapable of action by being independent of time. He reveals Himself and His work to us using time, and that person and that work He reveals, are operating both throughought and without time.
in the same way, Paul, He is independent of space, for the Word says both "nothing is hidden from Him" and "seek Him while He may be found"
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