Titus 1:2-3a (ESV)
. .
. in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages
began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching
The first verse of Titus talks about a “knowledge of the
truth which accords with godliness.” That godliness is lived “in the
hope of eternal life.” Perhaps that is one reason that godliness is so lacking
in the lives of believers. We too often live for the moment rather than for eternity.
The old hymn by Alfred B. Smith says,
With
eternity’s values in view, Lord
With
eternity’s values in view;
May
I do each day’s work for Jesus
With
eternity’s values in view.
We are often so overtaken with busyness, bills to pay, and things to do. Add
to that the distraction of Covid-19 and the political upheaval, and we lose our
eternal perspective. We too often live as though now is all there is. But the
promise of eternal life is rooted in the very nature of God. Titus 1:3 says
that God promised eternal life, and that God “never lies.”
God cannot lie. Titus 1:12 says “Cretans are always liars.” The Bible
Knowledge Commentary says that’s a quote “from Epimenedes, a Cretan poet and
philosopher from the 6th century BC. . . . By Paul’s day the saying had become a proverb
which merely emphasized the low reputation of Cretans generally”.[1]
Crete was considered the birthplace of
Zeus. One source referred to Zeus as an all-powerful liar. The Greek and Roman
gods regularly used lies and deception. In contrast, God cannot lie. He is that
God of truth, who always speaks truth. His promise of life eternal can be
trusted.
It was promised “before time” or “before the ages began.” The word for time
here is chronwn, that is chronological time, time that we measure. But
this promise of eternal life was before not just time, but before time eternal.
Genesis 1:1 starts out, “In the beginning. . .” Time as we count it started in
Genesis 1:1, but God’s promise of eternal life was given before that. If it was
given before time began then to whom was it promised? The answer has to be that
God the Father promised it to God the Son on our behalf. It is in Christ Jesus,
God the Son, that we enter into life without end.
It was a promise given before time began, but manifested at the proper time.
Here the word time is not chronos, time as we count it. The word is kairois,
a specific time, a fitting time, an appropriate time. At just the right time
the promise of God was manifested or made visible in the person of Jesus
Christ.
But the verse doesn’t stop with the promised being manifested. It says that it was manifested through proclamation. As believers in Christ we have this tremendous promise of eternal life that gives focus, meaning, and purpose to everything we do. Covid-19 and the political upheaval of our day tends to distract us from the eternal. If we would keep our eyes on the eternal then the difficulties and confusion of the day tends to melt away. Whatever happens in our world, it is not a world without end. It is just for a season, and then comes eternity. Let us keep an eternal perspective and let us proclaim the Good News.
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