Part 4: Why Call Him God?
In this final, fourth article, we’ll consider the Epicurean question, “If He is neither able nor willing (to prevent evil), why call Him God?
If questions about God aren’t rooted in desire to know truth, they become fertile ground for the doubtful, suspicious “ if” and “ why”. Accepting God’s pure, perfect love toward humankind by faith enables belief in God’s righteous hatred of evil, even while enduring times when injustice seems to prevail.
The Bible never attempts to prove God’s existence or character; rather, it assumes the reality of His existence and infinite, righteous goodness. Scripture’s foundational thesis is stated in the first words of the first book: In the beginning, God…”
There are other Scriptures that support this fundamental thesis: (Isa 44:6-8 NASU) “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I AM the first…and last; there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me?...Do not tremble and…be afraid; have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’” (John8:58NASU) Jesussaidtothem,“Iassureyou: Before Abraham was, I AM.”
(Revelation 1:8 NASU) “I AM the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”
Faith is essential to life. We often think of faith as only existing in reference to God, but in reality, we have faith in something every moment. We have faith that our bed won’t collapse during the night. We have faith in the chair we sit on during meals. We have faith in the invisible-to-us brakes on our car as we approach traffic lights and in the invisible-to-us strength of the bridge we drive over to get to work. We have faith in the invisible- to-us satellites that communicate with cell phones, radios and TVs, and connect us with other technology users on the other side of the earth. Yet, when called upon to exercise faith in the invisible-to-us God who connects the visible physical world with the invisible- to-us spiritual realm, we say, “How can I believe in something I can’t see?”
Our level of faith or doubt does not determine the reality of God’s existence any more than our acknowledgment or denial of gravity determines its existence. Gravity becomes visible in its results; if we defy its existence, we hurt ourselves, but gravity doesn’t cease.
God’s eternal existence and goodness become evident through His creation:
(Romans 1:20-21 HCSB) “From the creation of the world His invisible attributes…His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen… and understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”
God created us with the power to reason and choose, so that we can love Him freely. The impact of evil on our amazing ability to draw conclusions from observable evidence also makes it possible to reject or deny the very One who gave the privilege. This compares to someone who uses American freedoms to enter this country, conspiring to destroy the very freedoms that made it possible for him to immigrate. We say, “How foolish! Why would anyone do that?”
Indeed. How much more fulfilling to use the intelligence, gifts, freedoms and blessings that emanate from God to acknowledge and know Him; rather than reject and deny Him. We call Him God because He is.
Ministry through Infinite Grace teaches how to live through difficult times on the outside, while still experiencing peace on the inside. Call 580-774-2884 today for your personal appointment, or for more information on how you can be a part of this growing and essential ministry.
