(There is a God)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1
In the Beginning. Realize that there is a Creator, the “Lord God of Hosts,” who “created the heavens and the earth” and all things in it. He created everything in six (6) literal days – not over millions or billions of years as evolutionists claim. Furthermore, life itself did not just randomly “evolve” out of a sea of primordial goo by a “stroke of lightning” accident, as the evolutionists would also have you believe.
The truth is that God brought all things into existence – the universe, the Earth, and you and me! He did this by simply speaking His Word! This is recorded in the very first verse of the Bible:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. – Genesis 1:1-3
The Lord founded the earth by wisdom,
He established the heavens by understanding. – Proverbs 3:19
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands.” – Hebrews 1:10
Then God “breathed” life into man and woman, as explained in the next chapter. Imagine the staggering power in such statements; the enormity of the above statements should make you stop in wonder, awe, and amazement at what a big, great, powerful, and awesome God He is.
Christianity believes in one God – i.e., that there is only one Being with the nature of divinity/deity. God is not a “force” as some new-agers like to claim – He is a real spiritual Being, with feelings, emotions, actions, love, laws, and also justice. God introduces Himself in the very first verse of the first book of the Bible and is identified by the word “Elohim” (‘ĕlôhı̂ym or אֱלֹהִים in Hebrew, theos or θεός in Greek), which conveys the quality or nature of being divine – i.e., having the essential nature of deity:
In the beginning God [אֱלֹהִים, ‘ĕlôhı̂ym, Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1
God’s name is subsequently given as “YHWH” (or “YHVH”) in the original Hebrew texts of the Old Testament:
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Yahweh] God [אֱלֹהִים, ‘ĕlôhı̂ym, Elohim] made earth and heaven. – Genesis 2:4
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Yahweh]: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Yahweh] was I not known to them. – Exodus 6:2-3 (KJV Translation)
God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Yahweh]; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Yahweh], I did not make Myself known to them. – Exodus 6:2-3 (NASB Translation)
The name of God, “YHWH,” called the tetragrammaton (i.e., four letters), means “to be” (e.g., “I exist”) – indicating God’s self-existent, eternal nature, for He has no beginning and no end (Revelation 1:17, 22:13). “YHWH” is rendered in various English Bible translations in several ways (you see two translations KJV and NASB above), including:
- JEHOVAH (Jehovah, Jehovah, Yehovah, yehôvâh),
- LORD or Lord or God (all caps or small caps),
- Yahweh (or Jahweh).
Since God’s name “YHWH” is unpronounceable, the words “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” have been constructed (made up) by adding vowels (in the first case from “Adonai”) to the “YHWH” tetragrammaton in order to make the name pronounceable. So for example, where you see “Lord God” in Scripture (e.g., Genesis 2:4), this reads as “YHWH (Jehovah, Yahweh) Elohim” (“yehôvâh ĕlôhı̂ym” or “יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים”).
Matthew Henry writes on Genesis 2:4: [2]
In these verses, I. Here is a name given to the Creator which we have not yet met with, and that is Jehovah – the LORD, in capital letters, which are constantly used in our English translation to intimate that in the original it is Jehovah. All along, in the first chapter, he was called Elohim – a God of power; but now Jehovah Elohim – a God of power and perfection, a finishing God. As we find him known by his name Jehovah when he appeared to perform what he had promised (Exo 6:3), so now we have him known by that name, when he had perfected what he had begun. Jehovah is that great and incommunicable name of God which denotes his having his being of himself, and his giving being to all things; fitly therefore is he called by that name now that heaven and earth are finished.
The word “Adonai” (‘ădônây, meaning Lord or Master) is also used for God, which is rendered as “Lord” (standard capitalization) in English Bibles. So, for example, where you see it written “Lord god,” this reads as “Adonai YHWH” (“ădônây yehôvâh”):
Abram [Abraham] said, “O Lord [‘ădônây] God [יְהֹוָה, YHWH, yehôvâh, Jehovah], what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” – Genesis 15:2
God’s name is also given in expression (idiom) form as “I AM WHO I AM” (or “I AM THAT I AM”), or simply “I AM”:
Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM [היה, hâyâh, havah] has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:13-14
An idiom is an expression that has a meaning which cannot be understood by the individual words. This expression could be translated as “I will become whatsoever I may become,” again denoting God’s essential self-existent eternal nature of “being” or “He who becometh.” In effect, the expression “I AM” explains what the name “YHWH” means – God is externally self-existing and “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Additionally, the word “Elohim” is plural, and we understand today that God exists as three Persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). Each Person is fully God and also fully One Themselves. God uses plural pronouns (Us, Our) in Old Testament Scripture when referring to Himself. This concept of a Holy Trinity (One God, Three Persons) is extremely difficult for us to comprehend fully. In fact, our finite mortal minds cannot even begin to approach God’s infinite mind, nor His infinite knowledge and wisdom, for it is written:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
Wayne Jackson writes on the subject of the Triune Godhead: [1]
It is also clear that the Scriptures teach that there is a personal distinction between those individuals identified in the New Testament as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these persons are in some sense three.
Study very carefully the following passages in which the persons of the divine Godhead are distinguished: Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21; Revelation 1:4-5.
It is obvious that these inspired verses reveal three separate persons.
Furthermore, additional biblical data reveal that each of these three persons is God—i.e., each possesses the quality or nature of deity. The Father is deity (Ephesians 1:3), as is the Son (Hebrews 1:8), and so also the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4).
Any elementary student of logic knows perfectly well that the Godhead cannot be both one and three without a logical contradiction being involved—if the adjectives “one” and “three” are employed in the identical sense.
But the fact of the matter is, they are not used in the same sense. There is but one divine nature, but there are three distinct personalities possessing that unified set of infinite qualities. Thus, there is no contradiction at all.
Without a recognition of the above principle, some Bible passages would be difficult to harmonize.
Yes, God is the great “I AM.” He is the “Lord of hosts.” He is not bound by time and space as we are in this physical universe. Nothing can surprise Him or catch Him off guard. He is omniscient (all-knowing – past, present, and future); nothing is hidden from Him, and there is nothing that He doesn’t know. He is omnipresent (everywhere present simultaneously). He is omnipotent (all-powerful) – nothing is impossible with God. He “upholds all things by the word of His power.” It is He who created and sustains all life – without God, there can be no life. He is majesty defined. “God is love” itself (1 John 4:8). Amazing!
But above all, God is “holy.” Holy means sacred and morally perfect (pure) – there is not even the smallest or most infinitesimal amount or trace of impurity, evil, wicked thought, action, or character defect in Him. His holiness is beyond anything we can imagine; please do not underestimate this fact. Our human minds often fail to ascribe to God His proper holiness, while we simultaneously grossly underappreciate how bad even the most trivial/minor of sins are when compared to a Holy God. The depth and breadth of His holiness are hard for us mere mortal humans to fully comprehend. It is even important for those of us who are trying to lead others into truth to be diligent about this matter, daily humbling ourselves before God and reminding ourselves of His unimaginable holiness and glory. It is altogether too easy to become complacent and treat Him casually and not with the honor and respect that He deserves.
Many choose to focus solely on the fact that the Bible tells us that “God is love” and completely ignore that Scripture also clearly tells us that He hates sin and that He is a God of justice – He is perfectly just (righteous, correct, perfect in rule of law). Scripture abundantly warns us that He will therefore bring all sin into judgment on the Great Day of Judgment (explained in detail in an upcoming chapter).
GOD IS SPIRIT
He is not a material being like we humans are and like the physical universe is – the world around us that we can see, hear, touch, taste, smell, and feel. Scripture tells us that everything we see around us in this physical material universe was actually created out of things that are unseen, out of spiritual things. And it is only God who can reveal spiritual things to us, and He does so through the Holy Bible, the inspired Word of God:
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. – Hebrews 11:3
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:24<
Here are some things Scripture says about the creation of this world:
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast. – Psalm 33:6-9
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. – Exodus 20:11
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. – John 1:3
Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. – Zechariah 12:1
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. – Colossians 1:16
“‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.’” – Jeremiah 32:17
For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the Lord, and there is none else.” – Isaiah 45:18
“Of old You founded the earth;
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
“Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment.
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
“But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.” – Psalm 102:25-27
The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it. – Psalm 24:1
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable. – Isaiah 40:28
Those who mock God and refuse to believe that He exists because “science can’t prove it” fail to understand this fact. God is worshiped in spirit – “no one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). It takes faith to find God, for it is written that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6); but it is also written that “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
The Bible provides overwhelming evidence for Him, and many other areas provide supporting evidence that what the Bible says is indeed true: areas such as archaeology, geology, historical documents, eyewitnesses, and even scientific studies. So, God is not without evidence and witnesses as to His existence, for He has revealed Himself to us through: 1) Evidence as seen in nature of Creation, 2) His Holy Word the Bible, and 3) through His Son Jesus Christ – so we “without excuse” in denying Him (see Romans 1). The Bible was supernaturally given to us through human writers inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is without error (in the original language manuscripts) and without contradiction. It was given to us over the span of several thousand years as God progressively revealed Himself to us, and His plan for Creation unfolded in human history.
The Bible also states that it is the spiritual world that is eternal, not the material world. The material world we see around us (the Earth, Sun, Moon, stars) and everything that we taste, touch, smell, hear and see is not eternal. Furthermore, this material world (i.e., Earth) is in the middle of a raging spiritual war, with the forces of evil led by Satan (the devil) and his servants on one side and God and His saints (servants) on the other side (this is explained more fully in subsequent chapters).
God dwells in unimaginable, unapproachable light. He appears in the brightest, purest white light you’ve ever seen, or ever imagined, not an impure light as from a lightbulb or the sun. Imagine something a million times brighter or purer – a white so pure it cannot even be described, only felt. That light cannot be approached by any man or woman at this time, due to our fallen state, our current fleshly bodies, and our sin; or, in other words, God says: “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” But a time is coming when we will see His face!
Scripture also tells us that “God is love” and that this perfect, just, holy, loving, and merciful God desires to have a relationship with His created beings (us) – and with you! I realize how hard it is to conceptualize and rationalize such enormous statements and such an enormous, powerful, awesome, and splendid God, but it is written that “you will find Him if you search for [seek] Him with all your heart and all your soul”!
God rules the universe (all of Creation) by His rule of law, and we are His creatures. As you will also read in subsequent chapters, it is sin resulting from pride and disobedience to God which separates man from God at the present time (although there is a hope and a cure for the sickness of sin). It is pride and arrogance which causes man to refuse to see and acknowledge his own sin and that there is a God: And man doesn’t want to be told what to do. Man doesn’t want to bow down to anyone or anything – he wants to be his own God! But one must discard the wisdom of man (the wisdom of this world) to see God, for it is but mere foolishness before God:
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless. – 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Only God, through His Spirit, can reveal the things of God:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. – 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
EVIDENCE OF GOD
Scripture states that man “suppresses the truth [of God] in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18) and that all men are “without excuse” in denying the existence of God:
Scripture also states that nature itself provides evidence of God, is a witness for the existence of God, and that the voice of that witness has gone out “through all the earth” for all to hear:
[Paul and Barnabas, apostles]…saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” – Acts 14:15-17
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world. – Psalm 19:1-4 (ESV)
If you look all around you, you will see the wonderfully synchronized majesty of creation, God’s Creation – the Sun, Moon, and stars all designed and put in their places just so to work perfectly to support life here on Earth, the Earth’s axis tilted just so for seasons, the Moon put in exactly the right distance from the Earth for its impact on tidal forces and oceans, the Earth at just the precise distance from the sun to allow water which sustains life – not too close so that the sun evaporates all the oceans and not too far so that all water isn’t frozen solid.
When you look with an open mind, you can see all this as evidence that this world was created by intelligence. Furthermore, the laws of Physics are exact and precise – the law of gravity, the laws of motion, the laws of thermodynamics, etc. The laws of logic are just as precise. So are the laws of mathematics. These laws did not “evolve” out of goo, so where did they come from? God created these physical laws to govern His universe and life. “For God is not a God of confusion” and disorder, but of order and intelligence – and the physical laws of the universe represent that order and design.
The “Theory of Evolution” (notice, it’s not called the Facts of Evolution) false teaching (and fake science) causes many to disbelieve in God and doubt the Bible – before they even begin to read it! That is the intent of that false teaching/fake science. The very real forces of evil know that if you don’t believe the very first sentence(s) of the Bible, you will not read or believe the rest! That is why “evolution” is one of the first and biggest false teachings that you encounter when trying to present God and the gospel message, for we are brainwashed since birth to believe the lie of evolution, which is spread nonstop, 24/7/365 (literally every day and night, all day long) from every media outlet on the planet, shouted out at the highest volume level possible, and taught all the way from preschool on up through university level and beyond!
You will see that this pattern repeats itself throughout this entire book – for every single step I take in presenting the gospel “message of truth” to you, there are corresponding false teachings (lies, deceptions, and snares of man) set up to stop you at that step from believing and continuing on to eternal life. At the end of each chapter is a list of the false teachings that you must confront to move forward and continue on the path towards eternal life. Also, know that you will face the lies and false teachings of man not only from the secular God-denying world but also from within the church itself – from those who profess to be Christians! Many “Christian” churches, pastors, and teachers are not teaching what is written in Scripture; this book identifies many of those false teachings for you so you are not deceived.
And contrary to what many believe or have been taught to believe, science does not disprove God or the Bible; more information on this subject is given in the upcoming chapter on Science vs. the Bible. In fact, the more science discovers and advances and the more we learn about God’s creation – the more it confirms the truth of the Bible! And if you are honest with yourself, you must admit that everything you see around you in the physical world says order and intelligence – and it says so very clearly. You actually must suppress that truth and evidence to deny there is a God.
Matthew Henry writes on Genesis 1:1: [2]
Atheism is folly, and atheists are the greatest fools in nature; for they see there is a world that could not make itself, and yet they will not own there is a God that made it. Doubtless, they are without excuse, but the god of this world (Satan) has blinded their minds.
No, this world did not come about gradually over millions or billions of years, nor did life “evolve” randomly out of goo and mud puddles. God simply “spoke” – and it was. Amazing! If you’re looking for a “big bang” to start the universe, let me tell you right now that it doesn’t get any bigger than that! Don’t you want to know more about this God?
We will come shortly to the matter of why creation isn’t perfect (any longer) and why there are earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters as well as disease and death in the world today (hint: those are all because of the sinful actions of man, not God).
FALSE TEACHING(S) YOU WILL ENCOUNTER:
- Atheism (there is no God)
- The “Theory” of Evolution (and millions of years for earth history)
- Satan (the devil) is just a myth
- The Bible is simply fictional “myths, folklore and poetry”
- God is simply some kind of “force” or “a state of inner being” or an “inner feeling”
RELATED SCRIPTURE:
…God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. – Romans 4:17
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. – Genesis 2:1-2
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” – Psalm 14:1
Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. – Romans 3:4 [Note: These verses speak to things like the lies of the “theory of evolution” and those who deny that there is a God.]
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were born
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man back into dust
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or as a watch in the night. – Psalm 90:1-4
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! – Psalm 8:1
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen. – Psalm 72:19
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. – Psalm 103:1-5
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. – Hebrews 1:1-3a
For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18b
…for the form of this world is passing away. – 1 Corinthians 7:31b
For God is not a God of confusion… – 1 Corinthians 14:33
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. – Romans 11:33-36
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite. – Psalm 147:5
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:23-24
[God]…who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. – 1 Timothy 6:16
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:8
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” – Exodus 33:18-20
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. – Isaiah 6:5 (KJV)
“How great are His signs
And how mighty are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And His dominion is from generation to generation.” – Daniel 4:3
“It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how,
When He overturns them in His anger;
Who shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;
Who commands the sun not to shine,
And sets a seal upon the stars;
Who alone stretches out the heavens
And tramples down the waves of the sea;
Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
Who does great things, unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.” – Job 9:5-10
“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?” – Job 12:7-10
“He stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing.
“He wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.
“He obscures the face of the full moon
And spreads His cloud over it.
“He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters
At the boundary of light and darkness.
“The pillars of heaven tremble
And are amazed at His rebuke.
“He quieted the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He shattered Rahab.
“By His breath the heavens are cleared;
His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.
“Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty thunder, who can understand?” – Job 26:7-14
“Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
“For He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from the mist,
Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
“Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
The thundering of His pavilion?
“Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.” – Job 36:26-30
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55:6-7
“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
“Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
“Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning to the ends of the earth.
“After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.
“God thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
“He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.
“Then the beast goes into its lair
And remains in its den.
“Out of the south comes the storm,
And out of the north the cold.
“From the breath of God ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
“Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;
He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
“It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
“Whether for correction, or for His world,
Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.
“Listen to this, O Job,
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
“Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?
“Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The wonders of one perfect in knowledge,
You whose garments are hot,
When the land is still because of the south wind?
“Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
“Teach us what we shall say to Him;
We cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
“Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
“Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
“Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
“The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.
“Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.” – Job 37
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
“Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
“On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” – Job 38:1-7
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind;
He makes the winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His ministers. – Psalm 104:1-4
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8
And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” – Revelation 4:8
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” – Revelation 4:11
So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” – Acts 17:22-31
But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
The earth quakes at His wrath,
And the nations cannot endure His indignation. – Jeremiah 10:10
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. – 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)
“If you seek Him [God], He will let you find Him.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9
