The Unshakable Stance: A Martial Artist's Guide to God's Timeless Reality

In the dojo, (the Place of the Way), we learn the importance of a solid stance (fudōdachi - the immovable stance). It is the foundation from which all movement, power, and defense originates. A weak stance leads to imbalance and vulnerability. As Christian martial artists, we dedicate ourselves to this physical discipline, but are we as intentional about our spiritual stance? What is the foundation upon which our very soul rests when the pressures of life try to throw us off balance?

The answer lies not in a physical technique but in a profound theological truth: the timelessness of God. This doctrine, often seen as abstract, is one of the most practical and grounding truths for a spiritual warrior. It’s the key to an unshakable inner peace and a redefined identity. Our anchor point is found in Ephesians 1:4:

 “...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love...”

Let's explore how God’s existence outside of time is the ultimate foundation for our spiritual stance.

The True Dojo: A Reality Beyond Time

As human beings, we live in a physical world defined by what our senses and sciences can measure: length, width, height, and the relentless march of time. Seconds, minutes, years—these are the parameters of our reality. This presents a challenge for the student of God, because the Word of God often describes a reality that is in direct conflict with our limited, physical experience.

To grow, we must open our minds to a spiritual reality that operates on a different plane. This begins with understanding the mind-bending phrase from Ephesians 1:4: “before the foundation of the world.”

In the original Greek, pro katabolēs kosmou, this phrase does more than just say "a long time ago." It rips us out of our linear timeline entirely. It speaks of a moment before the universe was created, before the concept of "Day One" existed. God’s decision-making, His very essence, exists in the realm of eternity—a state completely outside the space-time continuum we inhabit.

This verse is a theological diamond; every facet reveals another aspect of God’s magnificent character.

“He chose us.” Our relationship with God was not our idea. It was His divine initiative, a purpose originating in His sovereign will long before our first breath.
“in Him.” This choice was not made in a vacuum, but specifically in Christ. Our entire identity—our purpose, our holiness, our salvation—is inseparable from our union with Jesus.
This eternal choice is the bedrock of our spiritual foundation. Before the physical dojo was ever built, before the first star was hung in space, your place in God's family was already secured.

The Divine Sensei: Attributes of Our Unchanging God

A martial arts student trusts their Sensei because of their mastery and consistency. Our Divine Master, God, possesses attributes that are infinitely reliable because He is timeless.

To grasp the nature of our Divine Sensei, we must first understand that He is both timeless (atemporal) and unchanging (immutable). As the creator of the very arena in which we live and train—the universe of space and time—God himself is not bound by it. He does not experience a past, present, and future as a linear sequence of events. Instead, He inhabits eternity, perceiving all of history in a single, unified moment. The Bible gives us a glimpse into this staggering reality in Psalm 90:4, which states, “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.” For the spiritual warrior, this reframes perspective entirely. Our most grueling seasons of training, our longest battles that feel like an eternity, are but a fleeting moment to the God who sees the beginning from the end, assuring us that our struggles are contained within a purpose far greater than our limited perception can comprehend.

This timeless nature is the very source of God’s immutability. Because processes like learning or changing can only occur within time, a God who exists outside of it is, by His very essence, unchanging. This is the bedrock of our trust in Him as our ultimate Sensei. Hebrews 13:8 declares this foundational truth: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” In a world where techniques evolve and allegiances shift, Christ is our constant. He is the perfect, eternal kata—the flawless form upon which our entire spiritual discipline is built. His character, His promises, and His love are eternally consistent, making Him the one truly reliable Master in whom we can place our absolute confidence.

This eternal, unchanging vantage point directly informs our understanding of another divine attribute: God's foreknowledge. This is not like a skilled fighter predicting an opponent's next move based on probability and experience. Rather, because God exists outside of time, His "foreknowledge" is a total and present perception of a single, unified reality. He doesn’t guess the future; He already inhabits it. From His perspective, the entire match of history is laid out at once. This is precisely how our salvation could be planned before time even began. It wasn’t a contingency plan developed in response to humanity’s fall. It was an intentional, foundational act within His eternal present, securing our victory before the fight ever started.

The Spiritual Warrior’s Focus: Fixing Our Eyes on the Unseen

This is where this massive theological truth revolutionizes our daily discipline. In martial arts, we train to achieve a state of focus, sometimes called mushin (no-mind), where we react without conscious thought, perfectly in tune with the moment. The Apostle Paul teaches a spiritual equivalent: a radical focus on the unseen eternal reality over the seen temporary one.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Let’s break this down for the Christian martial artist:

The Contrast: The "outward man" is our physical body. We train it, we discipline it, but it is ultimately trapped in time and perishing. The "inward man," our spirit, is connected to the timeless God and is being perpetually renewed.

The Command: We must intentionally fix our focus (mushin) not on the visible opponent—be it sickness, financial trouble, or relational strife—but on the unseen spiritual reality of God's Kingdom.

The Reason: The things we see are proskaira (πρόσκαιρα)—"for a season." They have an expiration date. But the unseen things—God's promises, our identity in Him, His love—are aiōnia, age-abiding and eternal.

This truth forces us to re-evaluate what is truly real and what is ultimately important.

Living from an Eternal Stance: Three Practical Applications

This understanding of God’s timeless nature is not merely a theological exercise; it is the very training ground for a transformed life. When we grasp this truth, it becomes intensely practical, radically reforming our approach to security, suffering, and identity.

First, it provides us with profound security, giving us a truly solid spiritual stance. In the dojo, our stability is measured by our performance—a perfectly executed kata, a win in a tournament, or the praise of our instructor. It’s easy to transfer this mindset to our faith, believing our standing with God depends on our flawless daily living. But the truth of God’s timelessness shatters this performance-based anxiety. Our salvation is not anchored in our temporary efforts but in a sovereign decision God made in eternity. Paul anchors us in this reality, reminding us that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). This truth dismantles fear. When you feel anxious about the future, you can rest in the knowledge that you are held by a God who already inhabits your future. From His perspective, the outcome of your life’s story is not in doubt, because He authored its beginning and is already present at its victorious conclusion.

Second, this eternal reality gives us a proper perspective on suffering, allowing us to endure the training. Every martial artist knows that pain, exhaustion, and grueling repetition are non-negotiable parts of the process. From our limited, time-bound view, life’s afflictions can feel heavy and endless. But from God’s timeless perspective, they are both temporary and purposeful. Our pain is not a pointless beating but a form of spiritual shugyō (intense training) that forges something eternal within us. Paul describes this process perfectly in 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV): “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The struggle you face today, which feels so heavy, is described by the eternal God as "light" and "for a moment." It is not meaningless; it is actively producing a glory that will far outweigh the temporary pain.

Finally, this leads to a redefined and secure identity—the true black belt of the spirit. So much of our self-worth is wrongly tied to temporary, visible things: our rank in the dojo, our job title, our physical abilities, or our social status. But God’s Word calls us to a higher reality. Paul commands us to live “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV). We are freed from the constant pressure to prove ourselves in the physical realm when we realize our true, core identity is found "in Christ"—a status that was sealed for us in eternity. We are not merely physical beings who have a spirit; we are eternal beings, chosen by God, who are simply living temporarily in a physical world. This identity is a rank that no one can ever challenge and no circumstance can ever take from you.

Your Anchor in Eternity

As we conclude, let this truth settle deep into your spirit. The biblical revelation that God is timeless is not meant to make Him seem distant or unrelatable. It is meant to do the exact opposite.

The same God who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15) is the one who chose you, by name, “in Him before the foundation of the world.” The infinite vastness of His nature does not diminish His personal attention to you; it magnifies the intimacy and power of His love.

Your life is not a random series of events. It is a single, important thread in a grand, eternal story that God has been writing from before the beginning. Let that reality be the ground beneath your feet. Let it be your unshakable stance.

Live like it’s true... because it is.

Theology is not meant to remain an abstract concept; it is meant to be lived out, shaping our every action and thought. Just as we drill techniques until they become second nature, we must intentionally practice living from this eternal reality. Here are three practical steps to begin integrating God’s timeless truth into your daily discipline.

1. Set Your Stance for the Day
Before your feet hit the floor each morning, or before you step into the dojo, take one minute to set your spiritual stance. Instead of immediately running through your list of tasks and challenges, begin with a declaration of truth based on Ephesians 1:4. Silently or aloud, say: “My place with God is not based on my performance today. I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. My security is eternal.” This simple act shifts your focus from what you have to do to what God has already done, anchoring you in grace before the day’s battles begin.

2. Reframe the Sparring Match of Suffering
When you face a trial—be it physical pain in training, a setback at work, or a difficult conversation—make a conscious choice to reframe it. In the moment of struggle, actively identify the feeling of hardship and apply the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:17. Label the experience not as a "pointless struggle" but as your spiritual shugyō—an intense training session that is purposeful. Ask God, “What eternal glory are you forging in me through this momentary affliction?” This practice transforms suffering from a random attack into a partnership with God in your own spiritual formation.

3. Conduct an Identity Check
At the end of your day or during a quiet moment, take a mental inventory. Ask yourself: “Where did I seek my value and identity today? Was it in my rank? My productivity? The opinion of others?” Acknowledge these temporary sources of identity, and then intentionally surrender them. Replace them by meditating on the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:18. Remind yourself that those things are "seen" and "temporary." Your true, lasting identity is "unseen" and "eternal," found securely in your status as a child of the timeless God. This practice frees you from the exhausting pressure to perform and allows you to rest in the identity that can never be taken away.