But who is able
to build Him
a temple,
since heaven
and the heaven
of heavens
cannot contain Him?
Who am I then,
that I should
build Him
a temple,
except to burn
sacrifice before Him?
2 Chronicles 2:6
In an effort to know God, many people attempt to anthropomorphize Him. Any attempt to make God to be as we are is in an attempt in futility. God is infinite and not limited in any way as we, man, are, seeing attending to things one at a time. This is not so with God. An example that we might use is the sun. Its rays flood everything everywhere, and this diffusion is omnipresent at all times flooding upon plants as well as the heavens its fusion of light rays. God is present everywhere and infinite, and as a omnipresent God as the Scriptures declare with all plainness then God as an omnipresent God has control over every part of the universe, no matter how big, or how small. God is not in one place for He is everywhere present. The Scriptures make it plain and clear that God is a personal Being who has infinity wisdom, goodness, and power. He is the Father of Spirits: "Then they fell on their faces, and said, 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh,....." (Numbers 16:22). God is personal, this then carries with it the rational that being personal includes that He would be concerned for the good of His creatures, His creation. It would not be consistent with Scripture concerning God that as a loving, and good God, would create life and not maintain that life controlling all that is included in life. Being a God that is good then He would keep His creation from evil; this is the nature of God. God does assume all that occurs in His creation, nothing is to trifle for Him.
That the statement that God being good would keep His creation from evil will surely raise the "hackles" of some people and they will cavil over that statement because there is evil in this world. From that concern, and seemingly contradiction they oppose, or for some, that there is a God or a God that is personal and cares for His creation. What is exhibited is trouble, tribulation, poor morals, and death. How can this seemingly contradiction be explained to keep with the fact that Scripture states that God is good? I will at a later point in these blogs attempt to show that God is good and the reason(s) that there is evil in the world. At this time, it is the Sovereignty and Providential God that is our concern because if He is not Sovereign and not Providential then there is not reason to exhaust any effort in combating the supposed contradiction. As a Sovereign God who has purposed to elect some for eternal life with Him before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:28-29) His purposes are His will and all that He wills is accomplished, therefore, we must not become impatient with God. He is infinite, we are finite. We cannot fully understand the workings of God that are not revealed to us in Scripture (Deuteronomy 29:29). God did not make us puppets. We are not attached to some strings that He pulls to cause things to happen so that His will is accomplished. God gave to man a will, therefore, man is responsible for what He does in this life: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:12). Yet, no matter how far removed a person is from God, no matter how evil this world becomes (due to sin, the original sin) God Providentially causes all things to work for good: "But s for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:20). God is good and all that He does and the method and manner He uses to bring about that Good is Good: "So He said to Him (Jesus) 'Why do you Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). This admonishment by Jesus had its immediate application and applies to all thereafter: Do you want to enter into Life? Then, keep His commandments. A fact to remember: God's patience is not God's permission. God as Sovereign and Supreme in all that He is maintains His creation Providentially and gives to man, His chosen ones especially, what is needed to have life everlasting, how we are to please Him, how we are to be in His will. The proof of this Doctrine is found in the Scriptures. When we exalt our conceptions of Him, the less we shall be troubled by that which we cannot and are not known, or given to us by God. Our faith, saving faith, is found in Him. He gives it by Grace and not by anything we do to earn that favor.
Behold, I am coming
as a thief, blessed
is he who watches,
and keeps his
garments, lest he
walk naked
and they see his
shame.
Revelation 16:15
Today, Read God's Word
Richard L. Crumb
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