Between worlds: how the incomprehensible becomes comprehensible

The “dear God”—an often expressed name for the Creator of heaven and the earth. Unfortunately, it may also lead many people to reduce the almighty God to fit in with their personal conceptions. Following are some thoughts on the divine service theme for October.

Is man even capable of understanding the omnipotence of God? And if yes, how? It is clear that God is not to be trivialised or belittled. But how do we experience Him despite the fact that we cannot actually understand His strength, His power, or His omnipotence?

Visible – invisible: taking a closer look

It is precisely this question that constitutes the main theme of the New Apostolic divine services in the month of October. One possible answer lies in the creation. Paul very cleverly writes: “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…” (Romans 1: 20a). These are modern words—and yet they comprise a difficult text. In order to understand Him, man must see Him in the right way: God blessed human beings, the plants, and the animals, and still provides them with food. Although He is invisible, God Himself can still be perceived in all the things He has created. He created the vastness of the universe, the tremendous diversity of nature, as well as each and every individual human being. Even though there are billions of them, each one of them is unique. And since the creation points to the Creator, we must also raise the question as to how mankind is to treat the creation, and what effects this has on man’s image of God.

And this only applies to what human beings can see with their own eyes. After all, there are also unseen worlds and many other concealed things—a whole sphere that we can only begin to comprehend through faith in God. Professing and praising God as the Creator also entails recognising the invisible world as His work.

Visible – invisible: His helping hand

The omnipotence of God is also demonstrated in His ability to help human beings—whether in mishap and adversity, affliction, captivity, or grief. And although people in these situations are not always able to recognise God’s hand of deliverance, He is especially close to them in these difficult circumstances of life. This applies all the more when it comes to the salvation of the soul. Believers seek deliverance, redemption, and eternal fellowship with God—not a life in the lap of luxury, but only as much as they need in order to live. And in both—whether in the here and now or in the there and then—God remains our Helper and Companion. He provides the strength to overcome temptations. His grace liberates us from sin. His Spirit comforts us. In His superior sovereignty, God is holy.

Visible – invisible: there is no topping the sacrifice of Christ

And then there is still the most important criterion for the omnipotence of God: the message of the cross. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 18). He sacrifices Himself out of love for us. This cannot be topped by anyone or anything. The life and death of Jesus Christ as true God and true Man surpasses human logic. And what’s more: neither reason nor intellect are capable of finding the path to redemption. This is only possible by believing in and following Jesus Christ. To hear this message of the cross, live by it, and keep it is all that a believing Christian must demonstrate. Hearing, doing, and keeping: this is the accord of redemption.

The dear God is omnipotent, powerful, all-encompassing, and unique. He is the Creator of all creatures. He stands above all thought and is greater than any human dimension. And He is also a loving heavenly Father.



Photo: Andrey Popov - stock.adobe.com

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Peter Johanning
03.10.2018
Divine service