“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

There are certain characteristics of God that humans can possess to some degree. Theologians refer to this as his “communicable” attributes. But there are also attributes of God that humans cannot share in (his “incommunicable” attributes). These include him being all-powerful, self-existing, all-knowing, or ever-present (just to name a few). We often get frustrated that there are so many things about God that, not only can we not share in, but we also cannot comprehend. As a pastor, I have been asked about this over and over again (how can God know everything in the past and the future all at once? If God is all-powerful, why do bad things happen? How can he be everywhere? Etc.). But maybe I can help alleviate this frustration by giving you a different perspective…

Each of us have earned, through our actions, eternal separation from God (Isaiah 59:2 and Romans 6:23). So, we should be left completely in the dark, not knowing anything about God. But instead, God has chosen to reveal himself to us; specifically in his Word, but also generally through creation (Romans 1:20). You see, we should never be disappointed in the things we cannot understand about God or the attributes in which we cannot share. But instead, we should stand in awe of the fact that the God of all the universe, who we have all willfully turned our backs on, decided to reveal himself to us so beautifully and so deeply. It is not a frustration that we cannot know everything about God. It is an incredible privilege that we been allowed to know anything at all!

Almighty God, we are awestruck and humbled by Your decision to show Yourself to lowly, sinful people like us. How much more incredible that You have chosen to love us and save us?! You are truly an awesome God!!!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon