For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
Far too often we try to explain God and the things has done in human terms. And far too often the explanation is absurd.
Five adjectives are commonly used to describe God: omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, omnicronance and holiness.
Meditating on them can help us to see and appreciate the differences between God and ourselves. These concepts are rather alien to us, yet they make very good subjects for meditation. Spending time considering these attributes and pondering them helps us to generate a deeper and more profound appreciation for our creator.
I’ve included a little ‘meat’ for each of these concepts for you to chew on in your meditation.
Omniscience – God created all knowledge. He has complete, unlimited knowledge, awareness, and understanding of all things; their interactions and all their possibilities. This knowledge was put not just into the creation of real things, but into the construct of abstract things as well – like words. Consequently we can use words to think and to communicate. That same unlimited knowledge was also put into other abstractions like numbers. Because of that, mathematics actually works and helps us to understand the universe He created.
What other ways can you think of to explore the “all-knowing-ness” of God.
Omnipresence – God created every place. Every galaxy, sub-atomic particle and ripple in space was brought into existence by Him and none of them are out of His domain. He is always completely present and fully existent everywhere simultaneously.
That is one of the lessons we learn from reading about Jonah and his experience with a whale. Does the idea of God being everywhere simultaneously challenge your imagination?
Omnipotent – God created all authority and power. He has unlimited authority and power. He is sovereign and is completely capable of doing whatever He wants to do. He can build atoms and galaxies; then destroy them at will. I suspect that a power resembling that in the hands of mortal humans would be profoundly dangerous. How do you think you would handle it?
Omnicronant – God created time. God is not restricted by time and is always in existence – always has been and always will be. Therefore He is no more subject to time than a potter is to his clay pot. God is able to instantly and simultaneously perceive all things throughout all time.
He created all earthly creatures (including us humans) and the angelic beings to be within time and subject to it forever. In the book of Genesis we see the sun, the moon and the stars functioning as a great clock. In the book of Revelation we see the Tree of Life functioning as a great clock. So it seems we are dependent on time from the beginning of creation and will be throughout eternity. How does this affect what you think about God?
Holy – God created goodness and righteousness. He is set apart from the world and is innately pure. God is perfect in goodness and righteousness and worthy of complete devotion. God wants us to be holy like He is. The process of becoming holy is called sanctification.
Nearly everything we know we know in contrast with something else. For example we couldn’t know anything about light if there was no darkness. Nor could we understand the slightest thing about goodness or holiness if there was no evil. Does knowing this give you comfort or make you uncomfortable?
These attribute words presume to describe attributes of God that are far beyond human capabilities. We know enough about them to know they overlap somewhat in function – yet, we can barely identify the concepts in the most basic ways let alone understand their fullness. The intent of this article is to pique your curiosity and push your meditations to greater depth and subsequent closeness to God even further.
To do this I might suggest finding a time and place where you will not be disturbed. Then taking one of the attributes at a time – mull and ponder its meaning and ramifications for at least 10 minutes – longer if you are able. Then in another session, meditate on another attribute. (Of course this is merely a suggestion – you will have to do what suits you).
I’d be interested in knowing how this works out for you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. – James 4:8a (ESV)
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Each of us is a unique spiritual being. We are born individually, die individually and stand before God every moment of our lives as an individual. No matter how large a group we are in, our relationship with God is one on one. Therefore our worship and each of our styles of worship must be accordingly unique. That concept is developed and expanded in the book “Worshiping Alone” available on Booklocker, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or most Christian bookstores. If you haven’t read it, please consider doing so.
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