Introduction
There is but one God, but he is a compound ONE composed of three persons. God is one essence, one substance with one purpose and one desire. God is spirit. Not a superhuman with physical form as we have. It is difficult to discuss God with accuracy. Our words express ideas. The only words we have are finite. Obviously, finite words are inadequate to describe an infinite God Standing first in the Godhead is God the Father.
GOD THE FATHER IS ETERNAL
The word “eternal” is a term beyond our comprehension. There is neither beginning nor ending for God.
“From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”. Psalm 90:2
He existed before time and will exist after time. Time was created strictly for man’s benefit. All events on earth, past, present, future are in the present with God. He is the “Eternal Now”.
To Moses he said, “I Am Who I Am “He can exist in many different time periods at once. “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4)
A thousand years – 8,736,000 hours. Yesterday – 24 hours. A watch in the night – 3 hours. All events are before God at this very moment. He sees them at once Note Isaiah 46:9-10.
“Remember the former things long past, for I am God and there is no other; I am God there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.”
This is difficult for us to grasp. It is difficult for us to grasp how God lives out side of time and space. Time is of no significance to Him. Space presents not barrier. God sees everything at once while we see events as sequels. Again our God is beyond our finite comprehension.
GOD OUR FATHER IS OMNISCIENT
The word “Infinite” means: “without any limitations.” He is without any limits as to his knowledge. He knows everything. There is no knowledge that he does not possess. He knows the weight of mountains, number of hairs on our head, cause of cancer, how long the world will last, etc. Any discovery of man, God already knows because he created it to begin with. He knows every move we will ever make. He knows our hearts, thoughts and motives. God the Father
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13
The Father’s providence rests upon his omniscience. Joseph is a good example. Joseph told his brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve life.”
With the Psalmist we must say, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot obtain it.”
GOD OUR FATHER IS OMNIPOTENT
“The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19:6)
This means the Father is limitless in power. It is impossible to conceive of God being limited in any way except that he can limit himself. His power brings to our minds the creation of the universe. Just think he spoke it into existence from nothing.
The vastness of space boggles our minds. All forms of energy, gravity, light and all forms of life. Hebrew writer speaks of his “upholding all things by the word of his power” (1:3).
Just as quickly he can end all things (2 Peter 3:7-12). Also there is his spiritual creation. This brings to mind such things as angels, the soul, and heaven.
GOD OUR FATHER IS OMNIPRESENT
While this word is not found in the Bible yet it described a characteristic of God. It means that God is everywhere present at once.
“Do I not fill heaven and earth? Sayeth the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:24)
This to some seems hard to believe since they cannot see, feel, hear or know that he is present. All around us are pictures and words we cannot see, feel or hear. They are radio and TV waves. We have to have a special receiver to receive these signals. Our incapacity to receive them does not mean they do not exist. Our incapacity to see, hear and feel Him does not mean He is not right here now in this room.
“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalm 139:9-12
The indwelling of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in us can be better understood when we accept the omnipresence of God. The important question here is what does this indwelling do for us?
GOD THE FATHER IS SOVEREIGN
If God is in total control and has already planned all things according to his purpose how can man be free to choose? The Bible teaches that while God is in control of his creation he has given man the freedom to choose his own actions. Jesus admonishes “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
Even though God is in complete control of his creation yet he never forces anyone to do anything against his will. God incorporated freedom of choice into his creation. If God has planned all things according to his purpose how can prayer change anything? James says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16)
God is able to “declare the end from the beginning” because both appear simultaneously to him. Remember it is always now with God. Nothing that happens surprises him or “catches him off guard.”
He saw every event before the world was created. God has made full allowance for our prayers. He allows our prayers to be a part of his plan and purpose. He can allow our prayers to enter into events and also arrange the event to fit the request of our prayers.
What about unanswered prayers?
We are not to ask whether a certain event happened because of prayer. We believe all events are answers to prayer in sense that whether they are granted or refused God has taken all prayers into account and will do what is best overall for everyone in the world. In this sense there is a purpose in everything that happens in our lives. It is therefore a reason.
When an opposite event occurs your prayer has not been ignored. It has been considered and refused for your ultimate good and the good of the entire universe. When I pray I feel it is just God the Father and me.
I forget that at the same moment there are thousands of other prayers that are going up to Him. God has to take into account all requests that are made. My request may not be best for me or someone else or it might not be best for thousands. There are alternative answers to any request that we may make. Christ’s death on the cross is one of the greatest examples we can give. His request was.
“Father if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not will but thy will be done.”
Here Jesus asked for an alternative to the cross.
In this case there was no other alternative but for Jesus to die if man were to be rescued from his sin. Note that Jesus takes into account God’s will over man’s will. The Christian receives joy in knowing that every prayer worded is considered by our sovereign Father and His infinite wisdom will provide for the well-being of all involved. It is no wonder that Paul said to “pray without ceasing.”
“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! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36
GOD OUR FATHER IS LOVE
One thing we know about the divine essence of God is that God is love. This is not all but certainly one of his reigning attributes. In fact love originated with God. We would never know what love is had he not loved us. John says, “We love Him because He first loved us.”
If God is love then why has he allowed sin, evil, pain, suffering, sickness and death to exist in the world? Can these things be reconciled with love? From Genesis 1 & 2 it is evident that man was created with the freedom to choose good or evil, to believe or disbelieve, obey or disobey to love or hate. To create a world without all of these choices would have made man a robot incapable of manifesting any love to anyone. He would only do what he was programmed to do.
Because man has the freedom of choice unfortunately man has chosen to live with evil instead of good. Man’s choice was not God’s choice. In giving man the freedom of choice God had to risk the probability that man would rebel against His will. God did not stand in the way.
Didn’t God know what man would do? Why place him here in the first place? God knew very well what man would do. Thus before man came into existence God planned for man’s redemption.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” Ephesians 1:4
But wouldn’t the eternal death of one person be too much for a loving God to endure? Why didn’t he drop his plan of creation since man would turn out to be so rebellious and a sinner? The answer to this may lie in the depth of God’s eternal love.
As an illustration on our wedding day we make vows of commitment to a person for life including – in sickness and in health until death separates us. We know there may be years of sickness and we know that there will be pain and finally separation by because of death.
We accept future pain, sorrow and loss because we believe the present moment of giving ourselves to another in love is worth any loss we may suffer in the future. God felt that some love would be worth what he would loose. Love far surpasses the misery which the freedom of love may entail. Also, we know God is able to bring about blessings out of all the evil, sin and tragedy that comes as a result of man’s freedom.
There is no greater example of this than the cross. The sin that brought about this evil deed resulted in man’s redemption. God chose the very best plan for creation. No other plan could bring such glory to God than the evil deed done to Jesus on the cross. Truly this is beyond our comprehension. However, we believe it.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE?
Realize suffering has a meaning. (1 Peter 2:20.) Realize it will only be temporary.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
We should expect some suffering (1 Peter 4:12-14.) Finally, we should rejoice that God will turn it all into good. (Romans 8:28.)
