Who Really Knows What God is Like?

Within Thy circling power I stand; on every side I find Thy hand; Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, I am surrounded still by God. O may these thoughts possess my breast, where'er I roam, where'er I rest; Nor let my weaker passions dare consent to sin, for God is there. -Selected

The attributes of God is a broad topic. Different theologians have tried to pin down what the attributes of God are and they differ on what to consider an attribute. It's not that these theologians differ on their view of what God is like, but they call some things attributes and other things characteristics.

Some list as few as 7 or 9 attributes of God while others have as many as 25. Some of these attributes we as humans made in the image of God possess (although our attributes are imperfect.) Other attributes can only be possessed by God alone and are what define God as God.

He (God) cannot be defined in mere human terms nor can we even list all of His qualities. But don't worry! This is not an attempt to avoid in-depth study in some areas, but rather an acknowledgement that an eternal, all consuming God cannot simply be fully understood in a lifetime or even a thousand lifetimes.

Therefore, we should be allowed to, at the very least, discuss these attributes in a broad and general way. I feel that we can still admire God's attributes as one admires a fragrant and delicate rose. That is, we don't have to know all of the underlying factors of why a rose is, but we can still enjoy its being and the pleasure and beauty it brings to our lives.

The "attribute" which I have chosen for discussion today is: the self-existence of God.

God has no origin. He was neither created nor did He come into being by any source. This very fact separates God from everything else; everything else that He created.

People who deny God as creator must explain the unexplainable. Even if a Big Bang and evolution were to be accepted, they still need to be the result of cosmic elements that mixed together in the right fashion at the right time. But this begs the question, “Where did the elements originate from?”

Faith must be used in even trying to understand God as self-existent because our minds can only process cause and effect. Everything we do has an effect and everything we see must have a cause. But God by His very nature and definition has no cause. Pause and think about this for a moment. If God were created, then He wouldn’t truly be God but rather whoever created Him!

We can learn much about God by His names. His nature is revealed to us by what He calls Himself. In Exodus 3:14 we’re introduced to this title. “God said to Moses, "~I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: '~I am has sent me to you.'" “ We know this name as Jehovah or Yahweh. Because the name was held in such high reverence by the Jews, it was not even uttered except by the high priest on the day of atonement.

Hebrew writers simply wrote Adonai, which just means Lord. In your Bibles, when this name is used, it is written in capitals as LORD. This name literally means “the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God.” It is this nature that Jesus declares in John 8:58 when he says "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

Jesus, as God, was greater than Abraham because He was Abraham’s creator. This teachers of the law did not understand this and accused Jesus of blasphemy for equating Himself with God (John 8:59). This name is used in John 18:5-6 and the people fall to the ground at the sound of God’s name. (Note: this should be translated simply “I am” rather than “I am he.”)

So in closing, how is this attribute ("self-existence") applicable to the Christian life? God needed no creator. He created us. You’ll recall in the book of Job how Job wanted answers for all that was happening to him. God’s response was basically, “Who are you to question your creator?”

God does not need any advice from us. No matter how old or wise we become, it is God who created us with a purpose and a plan. And if that plan should not work out the way we wanted or expected it to, what right do we have to question the one who needed no creator?

Scripture reference: Exodus 3:11-15

Let's pray:

Almighty God, make me conscious of my weaknesses, and make me ashamed of my indulgences. Give me a victory over self; and may I consider more what I put in my life. May I be eager for that which will inspire me for greater aspirations. Amen.

May God always bless you,

Candace