In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
In the beginning—before the beginning of you, me, or anything else—God existed.
But where?
And how?
And what does it mean for God to exist?
Is God just another thing in the universe?
Some people think so.
In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to journey into space. At the time, Gagarin was quoted as having said, “I see no God up here,” as if that was a devastating proof for atheism. It turns out the quote was clever propaganda. In fact, Gagarin was a Russian Orthodox Christian, not an atheist. He would never have said that. So who invented the quote? Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Community Party. At a plenary meeting of the Central Committee to promote anti-religious propaganda, Khrushchev said “Why are you clinging to God? Here Gagarin flew into space and didn’t see God.”
Think about that question.
What kind of God was Khrushchev imagining?
Did he think God “existed” as just another physical object in space?
As in, “There’s the moon,
and here’s a satellite,
and I think that might be God hiding behind the sun over there”?
That’s not how God exists.
He’s not just another thing in the universe.
In other words, God is the Creator, not a creature. His existence transcends creation.
Think of a painting.
Have you ever seen Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night? It depicts a swirly, curling, whirling evening of exploding stars over a quaint French village. Beautiful. Would you ever make the mistake of thinking that Van Gogh actually existed inside that painting? Of course not. Van Gogh painted the canvas. He isn’t part of it himself. You know the artist’s existence transcends his art.
Likewise,
God is the Painter, not the painting.
God’s existence transcends creation. He is outside of it, not in it.
As C. S. Lewis said, thinking a cosmonaut could find God in orbit around the earth is like thinking Hamlet could find Shakespeare in the attic of his castle.
Leo Z
Thank you Pastor Shawn. I sense a snippet sampling of your upcoming Free Grace (FG) Systematic Theology project. I’d say that this sampling is well done. The brief devotional format written in relatable everyday language, yet reflecting a deeper theology to ponder on, is wonderfully refreshing. If the rest of your materials prove to be similar, it would pose to be a wonderful learning resource for both young and mature believers alike. In other words, beneficial for everyone! Very much looking forward to the finished product.
Thank you for your devotion in defending and promoting biblical truth and the FG perspective. I will continue to pray for you, for God’s blessing and hand on this project and the GES family and its mission as a whole. .
Timothy Grady
Big up’s on this project Shawn .
So true Leo .
User friendly ; like Jesus made the understanding of His message of life .
J. Vernon McGee in his Down-to-earth way: “Ya gotta take the hay outta the loft an put it on the barn floor so the Cows can eat it”.
Unlike the “wisdom of this world” found in the hallowed halls of the ‘Academy’.
The world’s smartest guys (Stephen Hawking , Richard Dawkins , Lawrence Krause , Sam Harris) all believe a scientifically demonstrable impossibility – that everything came from nothing .
No first cause ; no Intelligent Agency . Wipe that painting off the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel !
Blessings on your efforts Shawn . So needed .
That is what passes as acceptable orthodoxy , and guarantees job security.
Leo Z
Well said Timothy. Thank you! Yes!, the world’s wisdom made folly by God. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 3:18:23).
Our God who is eternal, the “uncaused cause of all things”; “the uncreated creator of everything” (Psalm 90:2; Acts 17:23-25; 1 Timothy 1:17) Amen!
Timothy Grady
Thanks for those verses Leo .
So majestic Leo is this uncreated One described in Isaiah 40-45 .
Psalm 2 gives us an idea of what He thinks of the elite wise-guys : “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh , the Lord shall scoff at them”.
I’d much rather be thought a fool by those genuflecting before the latest zeitgeist .
KEN TAMASHIRO
Thanks,.Pastor Shawn,
Many people including myself prior to receiving Christ could not see Gods Face, thus wrong understanding on my part about understanding God.
In my opinion, the Apostle Paul saw the universal misunderstanding about God and wrote this into the Book of Romans.
This reminds me of part of a verse in Romans 1:20-22,…… 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Yes, I’ve been there and done that also. Thank God for sending Jesus the Anointed One from God to show us Gods Grace towards Humanity.
Grace and Peace to You,
Ken Tamashiro
Rusty Moore
Very good message on the holiness of God. Holy means “separate and apart from.” God is separate and apart from His creation. Pantheistic thought is a heresy that attempts to define God as part of His creation.