Now that is a familiar question, when we have a physical ailment and seek medical attention, the first question often asked is “How long have you had this issue.”

With relationships, “How long have you two been dating?” And the list is endless. “How long have you been married, divorced, friends, widowed.”

It applies to everything in our lives, how long we have worked at our jobs, been retired, been best friends, had our home, had our pets and it can truly go on and on.

It’s how we gauge time, time spent and time labored and time wasted and either the long suffering of an ailment or situation or in celebration the length of relationship.

So, what about our relationship with God?

Are we just haphazardly born, at random with no connection to God until we seek him? And then he gets to know us by checking out our lives? Not at all! 

This is what the Lord said to Jeremiah as he announced his calling to him.  

Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee a prophet unto the nations.”

God was letting him know without a doubt that he knew him, knew his spirit and soul before he even sent him here to accomplish the divine will for his life.

This also clues us in on a little something about callings, they are determined also before birth, and we’ll look at another passage about that in our next post.

This is one of the many often overlooked aspects to our relationship with God.

He knew us before, before everything, he knew us before he spoke the world into existence. 

We all have times that we struggle with our self-worth and question our being but once we understand that God created us individually, specifically, and very much intentionally it changes everything.

He created you because he wanted you. 

Every detail about us, our appearance, our sense of humor, our demeanor, every single, tiny detail that makes us who we are. He never creates copies; he only creates one-of-a-kind masterpieces.

Ephesians 2:10; For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

He knows everything about us from the numbers of our hair to our every thought, and our words before we have even spoken!

Matthew 10:29-31: ” Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. 

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered, 

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

The birds that many don’t ever take notice of, and these mentioned sold cheaply and yet God knows what happens to each and every one and we are to take comfort in knowing that we experience nothing that he is not aware of.

Psalms 139:2-4: “Thou knowest my dowsitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Thou compassest (surrounds) my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”

He knows when we need help, he knows when we are in danger, he knows when we are discouraged, when our minds are troubled and distressed and in that he always sends us help.

We can answer the question of just how long the Lord has known us by answering it with this:

Before everything, before earth, before the sun, before the moon, starts or all that is or was and that’s about how long!

Ephesians 1;3,4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

Love & Peace till next time!

NBJ 2024