The Greatness of God: Rediscovering the One True God Beyond Human Assumptions
In today’s world, opinions about God vary widely. When asked, “What is God like?” people tend to answer based on personal experiences, upbringing, or cultural perspectives. Often, these answers tell us more about the individual speaker than about God Himself. The challenge, then, is this: Are we building our understanding of God on truth or unreliable sources? The Bible offers a clear and unchanging portrait of God’s nature, attributes, and character—a picture that may surprise those unfamiliar with what Scripture teaches.
God Is a Person, Not an Abstract Force
In many cultures, God is imagined as an impersonal energy or distant cosmic force, but the Bible presents a very different view. God is not referred to as an "it" in any part of Scripture. Instead, He is always identified through personal names such as Yahweh (meaning "I Am Who I Am") or Elohim (God, the Creator). Moreover, the Bible consistently uses masculine pronouns—He and Him—to refer to God, reinforcing His personhood.
As a person, God possesses the qualities that distinguish personal beings:
- Intelligence: He reasons, plans, and communicates (Isa. 1:18).
- Emotion: He feels joy, love, anger, and compassion (Ex. 34:6-7; John 3:16).
- Will: He makes decisions and acts purposefully in history (Isa. 46:10).
This personal nature of God means that we are not dealing with an abstract force but with a relational being who desires connection with His creation. Unlike an impersonal energy, God speaks, listens, and responds to people in ways that align with His perfect will.
The Unchanging Nature of God: Immutable and Faithful
One of the most reassuring truths about God is His immutability—He never changes (Mal. 3:6). Human emotions, circumstances, and cultures shift constantly, but God’s nature and character remain constant across time. As James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." His actions and decisions are always consistent with His divine nature.
God’s immutability also applies to His promises. What He has said in Scripture will stand firm, and we can trust that He will act according to His word. His principles are not dependent on time or situation; they are eternal truths. Whether expressed through love, anger, joy, or justice, God’s emotions are always perfectly suited to the moment. Unlike human emotions, which can be inconsistent or excessive, God’s emotional responses are balanced and reflect His holy character.
For example, God's anger against sin is not a random outburst—it flows from His holiness and justice. At the same time, His love for sinners is constant, as seen in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8). These seemingly opposite emotions—wrath and love—are not contradictions but expressions of His righteous nature.
The Eternality of God: Beyond Time and Space
God’s greatness is also seen in His eternal nature. As Psalm 90:2 declares, “Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Unlike humans, who are bound by time, God exists outside of time. He has no beginning and no end. This is a truth that can be difficult to grasp because everything in our experience has a starting point and an eventual conclusion. But God simply is. His existence is self-sustaining and independent of anything outside Himself.
This eternal nature also assures us that God is constant across generations. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The God who led Israel through the wilderness, who raised Christ from the dead, and who sustains the church today is the same God who will one day bring all things to completion. In every era, His nature and purposes remain unchanged.
God’s Ways Are Beyond Human Understanding
While we are called to know God, there are aspects of His being that surpass human comprehension. Romans 11:33 beautifully captures this tension: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!" God’s greatness means that we will never fully understand Him. This truth can be humbling, but it is also a source of comfort—our finite minds cannot contain the infinite nature of God, and that is exactly as it should be.
We should be grateful that God is far greater than our limited understanding. If God could be fully explained or controlled by human logic, He would not be worthy of our worship. Instead, we serve a God who is far above us—One whose wisdom, power, and love surpass anything we can imagine. His plans may sometimes seem mysterious or even confusing from our earthly perspective, but we can trust that He knows what He is doing.
The Good News: A Relational God Who Invites Us to Know Him
Despite the vastness of His greatness, God is not distant or aloof. In fact, the remarkable message of Scripture is that this infinite, eternal God desires to be known by His creation. He reveals Himself not only through His Word but also through His Son, Jesus Christ. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Through Christ, we see God’s character in action—His love, mercy, and justice displayed in ways that we can understand and relate to.
This invitation to know God personally is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is not enough to have a vague idea of God’s existence or to rely on secondhand opinions. The Bible calls us to engage with God directly, learning who He is through prayer, Scripture, and worship. Knowing God is not merely an intellectual exercise—it transforms our hearts and lives. As we come to understand His love, holiness, and faithfulness, we are drawn into deeper relationship with Him.
Conclusion: Trusting the Greatness of God
The greatness of God is a truth that both humbles and inspires. He is not a distant force or an unknowable mystery but a personal, relational being who desires to be known by His people. God’s unchanging nature gives us confidence that His promises are reliable, and His eternal existence assures us that He is always present, from generation to generation. While some aspects of God’s ways will remain beyond our understanding, we can rest in the knowledge that He is always working for good according to His perfect plan.
As we grow in our understanding of God’s greatness, we are invited to trust Him more fully and worship Him more deeply. The question is not whether God is great—the evidence is clear. The question is whether we will build our lives on that truth and pursue a relationship with the One who is far greater than we can imagine.
In a world full of changing opinions and fleeting ideas, the greatness of God stands as a firm foundation. Are you building your understanding on who He truly is—or on unreliable sources? The Bible offers us a glimpse of the One true God. The more we seek Him, the more we will discover the greatness of His love, power, and wisdom—and the more we will be transformed by knowing Him.
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