God Incomprehensible

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 21, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 21.

God Incomprehensible

God Incomprehensible.—“Canst thou by searching,” asks one of old, “find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?” This does not mean that we can not find God or know God; it simply means that finite man can never sound the depths of God’s infinity. This is elsewhere expressed: “No man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

God Is Infinite.—Why man can never know God is because God is infinite, man is finite. Man had a beginning, and may have an end. God is not only without end, but without beginning—“from everlasting to everlasting,” “the eternal God.” Man can never comprehend this great fact. Language can not describe the eternal past. It could not in the very nature of the case be revealed to finite creatures. The thought is simply overwhelming, and all that the greatest can do is to accept the great fact and bow with reverence and awe before the Eternal One.

Infinite in Power.—All things came by his will; for “thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.” (Rev. 4: 11, R. V.) “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.” “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one falleth.” “The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary.” “By his Spirit hath he garnished the heavens.” “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” These are a few of the many expressions found in all parts of the word of God which tell us of his almighty power. Truly may we say with the prophet of old, “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”

Infinite in Wisdom.—God knows all things. Not only does he know all things, but he knows how to work all things, use all things, control all things, to the best end and for the glory of his name. “He hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” “There is no searching of his understanding.” “The foolishness of God is wiser than men,” even as “the weakness of God is stronger than men.” His government is laid in perfect wisdom. No surprise of foe, no exigency which may arise, no cataclysm of nature, can occur to change the wondrously wise plans of God. He knows all, understands all, can control all. In the light of his revelation in nature, in the written word, and in his grace manifest in faithful receivers, we may say with the psalmist: “Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite.” “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.”

“God Is Love.”—This is his character, the sum of all his attributes. In love he created the worlds, in love he upholds all things, in love he gave his laws, in love he executes punishment, in love he gave his own Son to die, in love he pleads with the sinner, in love he has wrought all things. Wondrous, boundless love, reaching to the very depth of human wo, misery, and sin, in order that the child of wo and misery and sin may be saved to life and joy eternal.

Unchangeable.—In all his attributes of power and wisdom and love, infinitely and perfectly blended, God is unchangeable. “I am Jehovah; I change not.” “With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” His all-power will never grow less. His infinite wisdom and knowledge shall never know diminution or loss. All intelligences in the universe might rebel and conspire; he has all creative and uncreative power. By a word he can create, by a word he can uncreate those who have betrayed the holy trust of life. But his all-power and all-wisdom are governed and controlled by his all-love. He can not use his power to blast or curse the universe or his creatures. He can not use his wisdom to plot and plan the destruction of good, neither does he bestow it for such purpose. To thus use wisdom or power would be contrary to his infinite love, and he can not deny himself. It is power in love, wisdom in love, and love, blessed, tender, holy, in infinite power, abounding “toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” What he was once, he is now. What he is now, he always will be. What were once his conditions and promises of salvation, are the same now. The law of his government is as eternal as his throne—like him, it changes not; it is without “variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Changes in Dispensations.—In the light of the foregoing oft-repeated truths of God’s word can be seen the folly of the claims so often made that God’s law has changed with the different dispensations; that in one dispensation it is the law, in another it is the Gospel; in one it is faith, in another it is works. There is no change in God’s law or plan or purpose. The only condition of salvation there ever has been since man was created upon the earth is the faith which connects with God’s power, which submits to God’s will, which brings the soul into agreement with God, which works by love, which issues in perfect willing obedience to

all God’s commands. This is the lesson of the whole of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. It is faith, the faith that works, that is pleasing to God. But have there not been changes in dispensations?—Yes; in the development of God’s unchangeable plan, there have been different ways of manifesting faith in the Redeemer to come. In purpose he has been the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. In fact, he was not slain till he came in the flesh. Before his coming men showed faith in his redeeming blood by the offering of clean beasts, and various other ceremonies looking forward to the cross; since the crucifixion the ordinances of the Gospel have shown forth his death as well as pointed forward to his second coming. But all this has not affected God’s moral law of Ten Commandments, wrought out in living character in Jesus Christ, our great and only example.

Trust Him.—Fellow-sinner, can you not yield to such a God as this?—Yes, you can do it, but will you do it? The choice rests with you. He has power to save you, to make you a new being in Christ Jesus. He knows how to save and change and mold you; he has wrought this work in myriads before, and he has wrought it in Jesus Christ for you. Will you let him perform it in you? He will do it all for your eternal good; for he “is love,” everlasting love. He loved you so much that he did all that he could do,—“gave his only-begotten Son” to save you from sin and death. Will you let him save you? If not, why not? Why not yield all to him? With all the boundless, exhaustless love of eternity in his heart he pleads with you to come. How can you slight his invitation?

Abide in Him.—Christian brother, abide in him. The trials of life will come, all things visible will seem to be against you; yet God “abideth faithful; he can not deny himself.” You may lose earthly riches, friends may forsake you, sickness and poverty may come, your name may be cast out as evil, persecutions may hurt you even to death; all these things the Master suffered and triumphed; and all these things God will work together for your good if you trust and love him. This is his promise: “And we know that to them that love God, God worketh all things with them for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28, R. V. Submit to his will, commit to him your cause, and Christ Jesus will triumph with you and in you. Trust God’s infinite power, wisdom, and love, and thus may you sing in the darkest hour: “For this God is our God forever and ever.”