Who is God?

by Calvin Burrell

Everybody has questions; many people claim to have answers. Some folks have too-long answers to questions nobody is asking. One of the keys to success in any project is to begin by asking the right questions.

To ask, "Who is God?" is to begin with the right question. If God is worth anything, then He is worth everything. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. To know Him is the greatest human responsibility and privilege.

We are not the first to ask "Who is God?"; wise men have always sought Him. Most have believed, perhaps instinctively, that God is and that He reveals Himself to those who dare to ask.

Book of Answers

Where shall we go for the answer? The right question is important; the right answer is not automatic. History tells of multitudes who replied out of their own hearts, of wise seekers who were turned aside with foolish answers.

By faith, we believe the best answers to the question are written in the Bible. Among the books of religion, ancient and modern, none have solved the puzzles of life, satisfied the heart of men, and stood the test of time like the Bible. Christians have found the desire of all nations, all ages, in this living Book.

Spirit. And what says the Bible to our question? It answers that God is a spirit, referring to the nature of His existence. It means He is not composed of flesh, blood, and bones as we are. A spirit needs no space in which to exist.

Light. The Bible also replies that God is light. Light symbolizes truth and purity, defined by God's own character. It speaks of His perfect holiness by which He cannot lie, nor can moral blemish be found in Him. To all that is untrue or impure, He is a consuming fire.

Love. A third response from Scripture is that God is love, speaking of the nature of His dealings. He is motivated by unselfish and undivided interest in the welfare of others. He knows what is best for everyone, and all His actions reflect that knowledge.

We may give thanks for this encouraging picture of God, seen in three words of Scripture. God is a true and pure Spirit who does all things in love. Let us willingly offer our praise and our lives to such a God as this.

A Comparison

These descriptions do not make a complete definition, however, and we may feel the need for more. It is possible to say more, although one must beware of the sin of too many words, especially on this subject.

Our basic method of learning is by connection and comparison with things we already know. But God is the only one of His kind; there is not much with which we can compare or connect Him. Therefore, it is difficult for humans to define or describe Him adequately. It is like trying to swim in the air or fly under water.

The only way we have of dealing with this problem is to compare God with what He has created, since that's all there is beside Him. But His creation itself reveals an almost infinite size and variety of things. With what shall we compare Him (Isaiah 40)?

People. We are fortunate to have a part of God's creation made "in His image and likeness": people. Therefore, we may grasp a little of God's nature and quality to think of Him in human terms. This may sound irreverent, but we admit that the reality of God is far better and beyond what we learn by comparing Him with us.

The word anthropomorphism is often used for this comparison of God to man. It means "in the form of a man." For example, the Bible mentions the face of God, His eyes, ears, mouth, and nostrils. We understand from this that, just as a man's face shows that he is personally present, so the personal presence of the Lord can be recognized and celebrated.

Just as the eyes of a man permit him to see things, so the Lord God "sees" everything - not with physical eyes, but with spiritual qualities that allow Him to be everywhere (omnipresence) and know everything (omniscience). In the same way a man's physical strength is focused in the arm, so the "arm of the Lord" is a way of saying that He can do anything (omnipotence).

Character. When we read that humans are made in God's image, we should think more of character than of visible features. The Bible says that God himself is invisible. He has many qualities, however, that He shares to some degree with those He created.

Creativity, for example. While none of us can match God's creative skills, still He has given men intelligence to "make" a great variety of things for his life, liberty, and happiness. This creative skill is a primary thing that separates humans from animals.

Languages. Another item that humans enjoy from God's image is languages and the ability to use them. In some way that we cannot fully grasp, our communication skills are a faint reflection of what God had been doing from before the foundation of the earth (Genesis 1:26: "let us").

Conclusion

There are more: the human capacity to know and apply truth; the right to subdue the created order; the choice between right and wrong; the privileges of sacrificial love over selfishness, and seeking after God. None of these did God share with others of His creation - only with humans. We were made in His image, and through these attributes we can know more of the answer to "Who is God?"

Much beyond our ability to understand or describe, He is changeless Creator, and eternal Father, and infinite King.

Calvin Burrell is editor of the Bible Advocate magazine.

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