In the midst of the deepest guilt and distress of the people, a voice speaks that is soft and mysterious but full of the blessed certainty of salvation through the birth of a divine child (Isa. 9:6—7). It is still seven hundred years until the time of fulfillment, but the prophet is so deeply immersed in God’s thought and counsel that he speaks of the future as if he saw it already, and he speaks of the salvific hour as if he already stood in adoration before the manger of Jesus. “For a child has been born for us.” What will happen one day is already real and certain in God’s eyes, and it will be not only for the salvation of future generations but already for the prophet who sees it coming and for his generation, indeed, for all generations on earth.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, and Jana Riess. God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Westminster John Knox Press, 2012. 
Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV): 6  For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given; 

  and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called 

  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

 7  Of the increase of his government and of peace 

there will be no end, 

  on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it 

  with justice and with righteousness 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Abba,

I love this thought; that for Isaiah, your plan was so set and determined, that he saw it AS IT ALREADY WAS IN YOUR MIND even though it was not already yet in reality, in time.  Your plan was set from before the world began.  You created the world with the full intent of Jesus death in play.  (1 Peter 1:20: Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:28-29). For you, Abba, there is no future.  Only the present, only the fullness of all things.  Time was part of your created order.  It is as foreign to you as sin is.  You just exist.  Always have….always will.  This is a concept, my finite mind cannot grasp.  But I marvel in and worship its reality.  

I am immensely thankful that your plan just IS.  It is unchanging.  It is already done.  Though for me, I have not seen the fullness of it yet….Though for the OT saints who saw even less of it fulfilled…WE ALL have the assurance that your plan is as accomplished and set as rising and setting of the sun. 

In this comforting truth, we take refuge and we wait with patient and joyful hope that no matter how long it takes for us to see the end promised to us, we will see it.  For in you will, it is already done.

We love you, Abba.

Amen.