Transitions of Life - Past, Present and Future

⏳ The Transitions of Life | Past, Present & Future (John 1:1–12 | Hebrews 13:8)

Life is full of transitions moments that shape who we are and who we are becoming. In this message, we explore the journey of the past, present, and future through the lens of God’s Word, anchored in John 1:1–12 and Hebrews 13:8.

From the very beginning, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1), we are reminded that Jesus has always been present—before our past, within our present, and ahead of our future. Though seasons change, God remains constant: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

No matter what transition you are facing—leaving behind the past, navigating the present, or stepping into the unknown future—this teaching will encourage you to trust in the unchanging nature of Christ.

✨ In this message, you’ll discover:
How God was present in your past—even when you didn’t see it
How to trust Him in your present circumstances
Confidence and hope for your future
The unchanging nature of Jesus through every season
Be encouraged: your transitions are not random—God is working through every season of your life.

🙏 Key Scriptures:
John 1:1–12 | Hebrews 13:8

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Welcome to the Rima Bible study. I am Bishop Linwald Williams and I'm here with you today. We will be discussing something that I believe is really, really important in this time and season. We're going to be talking about the transitions of life. Now everyone goes through the transition, but we're going to bring some focus on that, the transitions of life. And that um subtopic is going to be life before birth and life after death. That is what our focus is going to be on. And we're going to look in depth at what it is, where you are at this time and where you would like to be. As we go through that, I want you to prayerfully listen and so that you can really get an understanding of what we're really talking about. Now everyone is going through a process, but often time does not necessarily take time to think about it. And we are going to analyze and look at how each affects you in one way or the other. So life is a journey that begins before birth and it continues after death, as affirmed by the Bible. So it's important for you to have a good understanding of the Bible and know what it is bringing to you. And this is our good news to you, to the world in general, and it helps you to really have an in-depth understanding of your purpose and why you are here. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself this question? What am I doing here? What is my purpose? Who decided that I should come? See, these are very, very important questions that I believe so many people are asking. But because so few people can tell you the answer, most times people just let it slide and don't think anymore of it. Well, we're going to bring some understanding to all of that. Number one, you need to understand where you are coming from. Now, this does not is not determined by your race, creed, or color, but it is determined by a divine mind, and we call that the mind of God. And that is really what is behind your creation. So somebody really loves you and not only loves you, but you know, if you do not even believe in a religion, nobody can help wondering how did we come into being so meticulously made and put together. Now, of course, many tried to explain this scientifically, some tried to explain it from cultural and other social background, but the real truth is they does not come close to defining or explaining how we came about. Now the Bible gives us that answer. And in the first place, it tells us that we came from the mind of God. Now, for some people, they don't see God like others do. Some see God as nature, some people don't even believe that there is a God, which I find amazingly surprising. Why? Because, you know, I can't understand how anyone could look at the master creation of this universe and deny the intelligence behind it. And so we know, therefore, that there has to be something not only intelligent but super powerful to create it the way it has been created, and even extraordinary to create someone like you. Now, even you who is living with yourself don't even comprehend a fraction of who you are and what you really are made up of? Yes, biologically, somebody can tell you about cells and blood and bones and tissues and sinews and all of these things, but how did it all happen? How did you live when you didn't have lungs? How did you live when there was no brain? How did you live when you didn't have kidneys and have all of these other stuff which has developed over time? Now the day came when you were fully made, fully formed, and it was time for you to vacate the womb where you were put together. Now the fascinating thing about that is, although your mother carries you, she had little or no knowledge of who and what were being created inside her womb. She could she did not determine your sex, she did not determine what you're gonna look like, she did not determine anything about you more than the fact that she carries you and creates the environment for your creation to take place. Now, if your mother was creating you, surely should have some say in how you look. And you know, she might not want her child to be as dark as I am. She may want her child to be more handsome than I am, she may want different characteristics, but the fact is that she had no control over it, and as a result, she has to go with what that divine mind um determined. So your birth, your conception is awesome, and you spend nine months on average in the womb, and when you came out, you're fully formed and ready to go. Now, during that time of conception, when you were being developed, what happened? What was placed in you? What was your your blueprint for coming? These are very important questions that you really need to think about because so many people um never stop to think about who they are. And so one day when you have to return to your creator and um give an account for what and how you've lived your life, then of course somebody's gonna find themselves in some issues because they don't know and therefore never take steps to find out. Now in St. John chapter 1 and verse 7 from verse 1 to 12, we see that the Bible referring to our Creator, and it says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the same was in the beginning with God, and it also went on to tell us that in him was light and uh in him was life, and the life became the light of men, and it gives you insight into the birth and life of both John the Baptist as well as Jesus Christ our Lord. So here we realize that life is rooted in God, that is where life comes from. And again, it's wonderful if you accept it and really allow your life to be influenced by the knowledge of God that you have. However, if by choice you choose not to acknowledge it and decide that you're going to live and carry on the way you want to, then of course that is your choice. This is what is unique about your creator. He could have made you like a robot where you do exactly as you're programmed to do, but that would not bring any glory to him. It was necessary that in your makeup he put and gives you your default settings. Now, your default setting is that you have choices, and that is really, really important. Yeah, so we don't get overly concerned because a person decided, okay, they are not going to do and follow this pathway of what of life that God has set out. Because one day you will come face to face with that particular reality. And the good thing is that you cannot say that you didn't have a choice. Yes, you have everyone has a choice. That choice may cost you your life, depending on where you're living or who you're engaging with. Okay, but it is important for you to know that God, who is the source of all our existence. Now, this scripture highlighted the divine reigns of life, of how God brought us into being and what is the significance of that relationship between God and humanity. Now you need to know that. You see, you need to understand that the one thing that God is looking for is relationship. Yes, not what you possess, not what you may acquired throughout your life. What one thing that matters to Kim is relationship. And you can understand that. You know, many people give themselves to each other and create what is commonly known as a relationship. Okay, now in that relationship, there are expectations. Yes, what you're gonna do, how you're gonna do it, when you're gonna do it, yes, and we try to do it in accommodating what everyone needs. You know, that is the goodness about relationship. You're not just thinking about yourself, you're thinking about each other and how we can please each other, and that makes the relationship work like a charm. Yes? Now, if that can happen by mere humans, how much more would our creator desire that we have a right relationship with him? That is what he asks for. He gives us everything. He gives us the sea and everything in it. The fish is name it. He has given it to us. We go there, we enjoy ourselves. Some swim, some who can't swim, but they go there anyhow to just enjoy it. Some go sailing, some go fishing, different, different reasons, but they enjoy that amazing creation. Unfortunately, not many people stop to think about how did that body of water get there? How did all those fishes, different kinds of fishes, find themselves there and surviving and all of that? How do they navigate their way from one continent to another? See, these are questions that one needs to ask. And it will tell you so much about your creator, because his creation reflects his power and character. And so it's important for you to know that. Now, in the book of Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse 8, we again see something that really important. And I believe that this scripture, it tells us, it said, Jesus, Christ, the same yesterday, the past, today, the present, and tomorrow, the future. Now I want you to stop and really think about it. Jesus the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yes? And it is opening up to us something so fundamentally important that many people missed it. Yes? What is the past? See, that is the first question that you want to ask yourself. What exactly is the past? How does it affect us? And what can you do about it? The past is yours. Yes, in whatever shape or form you have it, it's yours. And in the present, there is little that you can do about your past, especially if you don't have an understanding as to how your past impacts you spiritually. So you got the natural past and you got the spiritual past. Now, in the natural past, there is little or nothing you can do to change it. Yes? So it doesn't worth trying. Spiritually, you can because it is this, it is more the spiritual impact of your past that is affecting many people in their present. So if you understand your spiritual dynamics and how you are spiritually developed, then you can look at things that have happened to you spiritually and mentally, and you can adjust it by how you present, you see yourself in the present. Okay? So in essence, therefore, your past is your memory. That is the that's the first thing you need to know. That's your memory. Yes? You own it. You have the you have the rights to it. Nobody can take that away from you. Now, what you do with it is what is going to either serve you positively or is going to serve you negatively. Yes? A person who cannot control what happened to their memory, they will suffer the consequences of that. Yes. But if you own it, it belongs to you, then you can decide whether you're going to annihilate it or you're going to put it in a box, put it away, and leave it there. Does it mean? Right? That's what it is. Unfortunately, people, there are many who allow their past to take the center, the center stage of their present. So somebody may ask you, what on earth are you doing? You know, you know, sort of meddling and wallowing in your past. Yes? And you will tell them, okay, you know, I just love the feeling of remembering it could be the bad things, it could be the unpleasant things, it could be the good things, it could be whatever it is that has happened in your past. Now the wise person will know, take the good out of it and erase the bad. If you have reason to want to keep it, then fair enough. But I don't think it is fear on people around you, especially those who are closest to you, to having to deal with something that they have little or no control over. Because you choose to engulf your present in your past. Yes? So my advice to you would be get rid of what is not worth remembering. Because remember, you cannot change it, yes, in the physical, in the natural, you cannot, yes, and if dealing with it spiritually does not give you the benefits that you deserve, then leave it alone because you're only going to serve to hurt yourself. And of course, those who love you in the present. Because, of course, nobody wants to see somebody who they love and care about suffering by suffering with some invisible force that they can't do a great deal about. They may talk to you about it, they may encourage you in it, but the final, you know, when it comes down to the final analysis, it's really, really completely in your control as to what you do with it. Okay? Now, you also talk about the present. Jesus the same yesterday and today. The present is what you own. Yes, you need to recognize that. That is what you own. Now, to bring this into perspective, let me talk a little bit about the future so that I can come back and talk about the present. Now, the future is really about your imagination. So when a person talks about the future, it's all down to what you can imagine, right? And in your imagination, you have the potential to think creatively or destructively. Yes? So whichever one, again, the onus is on you. So I can sit and I can imagine amazing things and work towards it in the present. Yes? Now, having understand that you can appreciate that the your imagination of the future, again, it's you that's gonna create it. It's you that is going to watch over it, it's you that's gonna make it valuable or not. So the you, the emphasis again is on you. Okay, so now let's examine the present, because the present is now your reality. Yes, yes, you're using your present to create reality that will follow you into the future. Yes, so what you do and how you do it is very, very important. That's why you cannot allow the bad of your past to impact how you conduct things in the present. And this is what so many are doing. They are literally allowing their past to influence their present, you know, in a kind of an amazing way. And wonder why things never seem to get any better. And it is due to sometimes the manifestation of what we are creating in our subconscious that lends itself to people not believing in God. Because they're thinking, okay, God, I've been through some terrible things in the past. Why am I going through it now? You're going through it because you're bringing it into the present. You are allowing it to influence your thought process, you're allowing it to influence how you live, what you do, how you enjoy yourself or not. So many things a person can use their past, which they can't change, to influence their present and you know, really um sort of mess up their future, and that is going forward. So your present is where you create your reality. That is something you need to know. Yes? Your imagination is great, and it works for people down further down. Many people stop their present creativity to focus on something that hasn't happened, in fact, maybe years away, but they are crippled by what they're thinking or they what they feel their imagination is doing concerning um the future. But today, I'm here to let you understand that when you put these three together, it embodies your life. Yes, your past memory, your future imagination, and your present reality. Yes. So today is the day when you are to make sure that whatever you're doing, you are creating the reality that you want. Yes, nobody's gonna do it for you. You got to do that. There are people who will help you, people will support you, but the initiative has to be you. Okay, so so this really further reinforces the truth by stating that God is consistent. That is the first thing you need to know. He is consistent. So if you had met him in the past and whatever you asked him to do, he would have done it. You meet him in the present and you look to him for what you need, he will do it. And you'll meet him in the future and whatever you want, he's the same God, he's consistent. That is it. He doesn't change, he's not he's not influenced by the changes of things, people, and places. Yes, he's consistent. Now, he's also everlasting. So as far back as you can go in your past, you're going to meet him. And as far as you can go in the future, you're going to meet him. And this is what he said to Martha and to Mary at the grave of Lazarus. That I am. See, Martha and Mary thought that had Jesus been there three days in the past, he would have solved their problem. Now they're saying that when he told them that he would solve their problem, they said no. We know that you can do that at the end of the world. But you said no. We are dealing with the present, your needs are in the present, and therefore your God is a now God. And as a result of that, you can expect Him to deal with your issue right where you are. So if you're sick, it's not necessarily in the future, it is what you accept now in the present. If whatever you need, whatever you're going through, whether it's your business, whether it's your job, whether it's relationship, whatever it is, remember that you have the power to create it in the now. And don't just live on your imagination and do nothing in the now. Or just remember your past and do nothing in the now. God wants you to focus on the now. Of course, we also see God, he is having eternal continuity from life to life, from everlasting to everlasting. That is who he is. And when you really come to terms with the fact that he is everything you could desire, everything you could want, man, is ready to be there for you. Now, you know, as we come into the final stage of this, I want you to understand that you are leaving from the now to the future. And it is in that future that he has already given us some insight when we talk about heaven. So when we talk about heaven, it's important for you to know we're talking about what Jesus left us with. And he tells us that heaven is going to be a wonderful, glorious place. And if you make and take the right decisions now, you are going to be in a very, very good place. So here he tells us that all of this underscores the enduring nature of God's presence in all stages of one's existence. So you can't deny that God was not present in your past. You can't deny that God is not present in your, you know, present in your present right now. You can't deny that he will not be there in the future. Because today was once the future. In the future as you imagine him. And here Jesus meant promises eternal life. You see, that's what he did. He to his disciples, he let them understand that he is the resurrection and he is life. And if they trust in him, then he has that to give to them and that they would have life after death. This is it. He demonstrated this reality when Lazarus died, was buried, to the point where they said, by now, by now he stinked. But because of who God is, yeah, a decaying corpse is not a problem. When he creates you from a single cell, you know what I mean, you know, praise God, here it is. That's where you're coming from. A single cell. Amen. And he creates you so fantastic, so beautiful, you mean so intelligent. So having a cop with everything there, or most things, that was not going to be a problem. But he was going to deal with it first from the spirit realm and then manifest itself in the natural realm. So he made promises to us that we would receive eternal life. And not only in the future, in case people think I don't have any imagination, but it begins right now, right this day, this day that you sitting listening, you can make that informed decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and begin your spiritual journey with him, so that your imagination of the future will not be empty, useless imagination, but it will be filled with hope and as Jesus illustrates, the promise. Yes? And this is so, so very important for you to understand the depth of his love for you and to what extent he would go to make you the best that you can ever be. I mean, it is amazing the extent he would go to really bring about a transformation, a transformative impact of faith on your life and to bring you into joy and happiness. Yes? So this is so, so important as you look at and examine the various stages of your life. And if you look keenly, you will see God there always watching over you, protecting you. And even if you don't understand it at this stage, he will definitely not abandon you, but he will patiently wait for you to grow up, wait for you to mature, wait for you to receive that revelation of who he is. I just want to say thank you so much for being here with me today, and uh we are happy to be able to share this Rima Bible study with you, and so we are encouraging you to share it with someone else and to support us in this great cause to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ in simplicity to you, and that you can have a better understanding of what God is doing and wants to do. So let me take this chance again to say thank you for coming and don't forget you can reach us also on the YouTube and the TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook and all of that. So please don't forget to share, subscribe, and to follow. I say, before I go, let me pray with you and ask the Lord, whatever your circumstances are, whatever you're going through, whether it's holding on to a bad memory or whether you feel you can't even imagine what your future is going to be like, today is what matters. And we're gonna pray that the Lord will bless you today and going forward. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you. And we bless you, Lord God, for your love wherewith you loved us, your people. I thank you, God, for this place. I thank you for everything you're doing, and I'm asking you, Father, to receive our gratitude. I'm asking you, Father, in turn, to pour out upon your people everywhere, not just on us here, but God everywhere, and let them know that you love them. And Father, we just want you to know how much we appreciate you and we say thank you in Jesus' wonderful name. Amen. So God bless you and stay blessed in Jesus' name.