Thoughts from the Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 03 May 2023 08:54

God is…
God is … what you would say next is obviously of great importance because it would certainly ascribe some characteristic or trait to God. Or you might simply use a word that communicates your belief or disbelief in the reality of God. In fact, not saying anything but simply leaving that phrase “as is” communicates a truth that we find in Heb. 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” But simple statements that God exists have few biblical parallels. One other such place can be found in Ex 3:14 where God tells Moses the name by which Israel should know Him: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” But even here, the primary thought is not that God exists. The nation of Israel was well aware of that reality. What the Bible says here speaks of God being self-existent, meaning that He is independent of all things and dependent upon no thing. But you can certainly understand this truth from the first four words of the Bible because before there was even time and space, there was God.

Over the years there has been a number of arguments put forth to prove the existence of God. One of the most common and in my mind the most effective uses the argument that since the “idea” of God resides in the heart and mind of every person, then God certainly exists. Turns out there is no need for someone to argue against the existence of a large, well-dressed rabbit going door to door leaving Easter baskets for children. Because no one can, hopefully, conceive of such a thing in their mind; there is no call for angry dissenters. However, the case for God certainly has its share of angry dissenters and naysayers. It has always been interesting to me that there are those who define themselves as adamant and at times angry disbelievers of something they claim does not exist in the first place. Why would you define or categorize yourself by something that does not exist?

There are so many other philosophical arguments that argue for the reality of God from the basis of creation, order, morality and the like; however, in the end, they all fall hopelessly short of the goal of turning a heart toward God. As it turns out, Scripture remains true: “for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Heb. 11:6). As always, faith is required. But certainly faith is not without evidence for everything in creation testifies to the reality of God for believers, and rightly so, for He has created all things. We will get to that later!

Interestingly enough, the Bible never really takes up the argument for the existence of God. Scripture begins with the presupposition that there is a God. “In the beginning, God,” and with that a whole world of explanation and truth begins to unfold to the reader to describe for us the work, person and character of God, as well as Creation, Mankind, the terrible thing that has caused all the problems in the world, and what God has done through His Son to redeem it – not to mention an absolute treasure-trove of countless other truths for wise and faithful living.

So, hopefully going forward we can enjoy together the wonder of our great God and the many great things He has done, resting in the fact that He is a God who is.

-Joey Carroll