Few days i posted about Who am I?, We saw we are God’s creation, created in His own image. Our purpose in life is to know him better, love and glorify him. Today, let’s try an answer Who is God?
God is the creator and holds everyone and everything together. He is the “ultimate reality” who is holy and doesn’t change. He always existed and has no beginning and no end. He is perfect in love, goodness, wisdom, justice and truth. All things happen through Him and by His will. (John 1:1-3; Isaiah 6:3, Malachi 3:6; Revelation 1:8; Daniel 4:35)
God is the “ultimate reality” who “transcends” all his creation and at the same time he is “immanent” who is with us. The tamil word Kadavul (கடவுள்) explains this nature of God. Kada (கட) – Transcendent and vul (உள்) – Immanent. We can know God only by his self-revelation. Biblical revelation of God is progressive, reaching its fullness in Jesus Christ. Revelation, experience, scripture (The Bible), community of believers, our traditions and reason contribute as normative factors to understand God.
Revelation and experience of God are inextricably intertwined. We can know God is real by using our eyes, minds and hearts. Even non-believers have a conscience. Deep down, all people know what is right and what is wrong. When we read and mediate the scriptures, God makes us to hear His voice deep within us, in our hearts. He speaks to us personally. God revealed to Moses proclaiming “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6,7a).
It’s also important to know about the experience of believers and how God has been recorded in the scripture and “handed on” to future generations. Apostle John writes in his first epistle “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).
God is described as Accessible, Creator, Eternal, Father & Mother, Faithful, Glory, Good, Grace, Guide, Holy, Immutable, Impartial, Incomprehensible, Infinite, Invisible, Jealous, Just, Patient, Love, Merciful, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Perfect, Person, Preserver, Provider, Righteous, Savior, Sovereign, wise and so on in the scriptures.
Our finite minds, cannot comprehend the mystery of the infinite, transcendent & Immanent God apart from what is revealed in the scriptures and personally experienced. But God is sufficiently revealed to us to trust Him, worship Him, glorify Him and humble and submit ourselves to His will.
Shall we look to the God in prayer reflecting the truth we have seen today? Our father in heaven, we thank and praise you for revealing to us sufficiently as our creator who is transcendent and immanent. Thank you for your presence within us. Lord, speak to us, give us the desire to read your Word (The Bible) and come closer to you. Give us your peace and happiness, In Jesus name we pray. Amen.