Introduction
Whom do we say who God is. As the 12 Apostles of old grappled with this question so should everyone in their lifetime. Who is He for you? Who is he for us? At this point in my life I am convinced that this type of question was meant to be a lifetime endeavor, we see support for this in the Bible. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” — John 17:3, KJV. For all of the busy endeavors I could chose, why chose that endeavor? The answer is simple. Our entire salvation depends on it. Our time is so finite on this earth life. We will come to find that those temporal things we seek in this life will not amount to the eternal nature of knowing our Father in Heaven. This article will attempt to define the nature of God based on biblical evidence and current scholarship in order to teach truth. For this article I want to define God’s Omnipotence, his Omnipresence and his Omniscience.
Omnipotence
When we read passages in the Bible there is profound teaching that God is worthy of worship and is over all. In Job 42:2 we read”I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” – (NIV 2011) Has there been a time in our lives where we have felt this way. We don’t just feel or think that God can do all things because it feels nice. This has to be true in order for our faith to be validated. The God we worship has to be all powerful and able to do all things because there is no safety in a god that is limited by natural processes. So do we claim that God is limitless? I do not for textual reasons and here is why. In Matthew 9:23 (NIV 2011) – “… Everything is possible for who believes.” For context, this the healing of the possessed son, performed by Christ for a pleading father dealing with a non treatable issue with his son. There was no medicine for this, so in essence the father is asking for the impossible. From the words of Christ we see here a statement that God is not limited by laws but by his nature for those that believe. In other words God is supremely capable but will not perform or enact specific things thus exemplifying his personable nature. Although I think God can do all things, I believe there are things that He wont do because of his nature. For instance it is not in God’s nature to sin even though he is capable. Why does this idea matter? Influence from Greek or Platonism would render God, non personable, static and without welfare toward human mortals. A force bound by limits of the universe, so uncharacteristic of a loving Father that we could pour out our hearts to in prayer and worship. As every child knows, we like to think of our parents as our super heroes that can get us out of a bind, and for those that didn’t have these types of parents maybe it was a mentor or close friend, but someone who you knew that could solve your problems, regardless the impossibility. Although God isn’t the type that will always take care of our problems for us we can have faith and hope in him that regardless of our suffering and trials He can help us overcome ALL things.
Omnipresence
when was the last time that you went out to nature and looked around and as the poets state “smell the roses.” It doesn’t take long to see that there is a feeling of peace and serenity. Its a feeling that even in the remotest places, you don’t feel alone. Part of this comes from our knowledge that there is mystery to be uncovered, and answers to find, and problems to solve. Amidst this abstract reality we somehow feel that we are never alone that there is someone with us, guiding us, leading us onward in our own unique ways. In the Psalm 139:7-10 we read:
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
I find it fascinating that for every person on earth, God is able to personally interact with multiple people simultaneously in a very unique ways to makes our relationship with him special. How is this possible? One of the best explanations that is easy to grasp in terms of the omnipotence of God can be seen in our natural world. We see it every day as explore our reality. As the sun shines on multitudes of people in a large geographical space, how much so does God’s influence and presence be found in even the most remote places on earth. No building or depth of ocean can bar the presence of God for his expanse is eternal.
Omniscience
Isaiah 40:28
“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
Awhile back I saw a movie with Bradley Cooper called “Limitless.” In the film a man stumbles upon a drug known as NZT which enables a patient to access every part of their brain thus unlocking capacity to learn more, do more and have virtually unlimited motivation and drive. Part of the reason I enjoyed this film was not because of its allure to luxury and wealth and power, but because there is an underlying topic probably more for philosophical circles. If you could have unlimited access to knowledge and wisdom what would that look like for you? Would you solve cancer or poverty? Would you hone your trade or skill sets for enjoyment? I stand in Awe of the idea that with all of God’s knowledge and wisdom, he created worlds without number and created a space for his children to learn and to grow in our relationship with him. All his power and he created us! He wants to be with us during suffering he wants to be with us when we are happy, he wants to be with us when we are sad? Isn’t it amazing that in our tiny existence? Why should we ever be anxious or fearful. Know this, with God over everything, there is nothing that destroy or suffering too great that can separate us from the eternal overpowering joy and rest that’s in store for us after we have endured well for God knows all and is over all. I am thankful that those deep problems and questions that often plague my mind and cause me great angst can be calmed and addressed because of this truth.
Conclusion
In the end, when we ask “Who is God?” we are not chasing an abstract idea but entering into the deepest pursuit of our lives. To know Him is not merely to affirm His power, presence, and knowledge, but to rest in the truth that all of these divine attributes flow from His loving and personal nature. God is not distant, static, or indifferent, but the living Father who is able to do all things, who is with us in every place, and who knows us better than we know ourselves. Our salvation is found not in fleeting pursuits, but in this relationship with the Almighty who reveals Himself through Scripture, creation, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Truly, as John 17:3 declares, eternal life is to know the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. May our lives, finite though they are, be spent in the endless endeavor of knowing Him more fully, trusting Him more deeply, and loving Him more faithfully.
Technyx 