Beyond Infinity

You've heard Buzz Lightyear say, "To infinity and beyond".  Well, where is God in all of this?  He is, of course, infinite.  We are finite.  But what does this mean?

Infinite by definition means not limited, extending indefinitely (endless or beginningless!), boundless (without boundaries), immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive,  inexhaustible. (Merriam-Webster)  When we apply this word to God (who is by the way, indescribable) we can sum it up by saying that He is not limited by time or space.  God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

Omniscience is the state of knowing everything (all-knowing).  When we say that God is omniscient, we mean that  His knowledge of things is unlimited.  "Not only does God know everything that will happen, He also knows all things that could have possibly happened."  (gotQuestions.org)  You cannot hide anything from God, nor is there anything that He is unaware of.  He is imminently qualified to be ruler and judge over all.

"Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite."  Psalm 147:5 (NASB)

"Take a long, hard look. See how great he is—infinite, greater than anything you could ever imagine or figure out!"  Job 36:26 (The Message)

"For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."  1 John 3:20 (KJV)

Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful.  His power is limitless!  "Nothing can stop His decreed will from happening, and nothing can thwart or stop His divine purposes from being fulfilled." (gotQuestions.org)

"He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."  Joshua 4:24 (NIV)

"Look around you: Everything you see is God's—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; he picked their children—that's you!—out of all the other peoples. That's where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God, your God, is the God of all gods, he's the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome."  Deuteronomy 10:14 (The Message)

"God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you'll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly. You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand, you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist. You own the cosmos—you made everything in it, everything from atom to archangel. You positioned the North and South Poles; the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you. With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel— nobody trifles with you! The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can't keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you've been so good to us! We're walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!"  Psalm 89:5-18 (The Message)

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve."  Jeremiah 32:17-19 (NIV)

Omnipresence means that God  is everywhere, He is always present.  He always has been and He always will be.  God is eternal.  He had no beginning and He has no end.  He has always existed.  Consequently, you cannot escape His presence.  There is nowhere that you can hide from Him.  He is always with you.  Oh, you can ignore Him but that doesn't mean that He is not there...

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,  you are there.   If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)

As humans, we find it so hard to understand a realm that is not physical.  We are so bound by this physical world and our physical bodies that limit us.  I used to explain this to kids in my classrooms this way.  We are finite but God is infinite. We are limited but God knows no limits.  We have a beginning and an end.  God had no beginning and has no end.  He actually is the beginning and the end as it says in Revelation 1:8, "'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' saith the Lord,' Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.'"  God is so beyond even our concept of infinity that I decided to call this post "Beyond Infinity".   If God had not revealed Himself to us, we would not understand who He is or what He is like at all.  Thankfully, He did reveal Himself to us, first through His creation and our conscience, and then through His word and His Son, Jesus Christ.  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  2 Corinthians 9:15  (NASB)

"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"  Matthew 19:25-26 (NIV)

Dear Lord,  Thank you that You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present.  Please make me aware of the finiteness of my own mind, and thankful for the infiniteness of Yours...  Thank you that with You, all things are possible.

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