This Spoonful comes from an older Shoveletter in the Heaven and Eternity series

I AM WHO I AM ... I AM has sent me to you Exodus 3:14

I could be wrong, but I think Moses may have been expecting a different answer to his request of God for His name. Imagine Moses visualizing the scene when he takes God's message to Pharaoh. The most powerful man on earth says, "So, what is the name of your god who makes demands of ME?" Moses says, "I AM". Pharaoh: "Huh? Could you repeat that? It sounded like you said 'I AM'." Notice, God did not tell Moses, "I WAS" or "I WILL BE", but "I AM". Now, God is "THE ONE WHO IS WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME," (Revelation 1:8) but He never said that His name is, "I WAS" or "I WILL BE", but "I AM".

Let's get simple, okay? "I AM" is a statement of real, right now existence. Our problem with this simplicity is that, in ourselves, WE DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE. We TRY to live in the moment, but our moments are so dependent upon our yesterdays and our tomorrows that today is cancelled out. In other words, we live our lives trying to be "somebody".

How often do you try to get away from your past in the hopes of making a better future? No, you are not alone. This is one of the basic operating principles of the world you grew up in. If you will just observe it with the new eyes that you have been given by the Spirit it would jump out in front of you everywhere you looked! Realize this: there is only ONE TRUE SOURCE OF LIFE, and it is the life of God. He is the I AM. You cannot learn how to live this life by practice; it is only "learned" in Christ, for he was born of God. So, you can forget all your techniques ... they can't help you get past the fundamental chasm between the flesh and the Spirit.

Here's the scoop: If Christ is in you, you have already received the life of "I AM"! This is the eternal life ... and it is Christ. Do you realize that life can only be lived in the present? Think about it. Can you LIVE in yesterday? Can you LIVE in tomorrow? No, it is ALWAYS today. It's not even 5 minutes ago ... nor is it 5 minutes from now ... it is ALWAYS ONLY NOW. So, here's my real question: What is this "life" that we have learned from the world ... the life that is bound by the bondage of the past and illusions of the future? Hmmm?

Don't worry about the past, He has already taken care of that. Don't concern yourself with the future, He is already there. Live the life that is NOW ... it is the life of God, the "I AM". 5 years from now it will STILL be the life that is NOW. It is only an illusion that you can live anywhere else. Theories of the space/time continuum won't help you either. For it is only in Christ that everything of God lives in bodily form. And He is in YOU. He took you out of the old and made you new. Already.