Man’s Perspective of God’s Nature

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
10/13/20 - Bulletin Articles

Our perspective changes based “where” we are. I don’t mean geographically necessarily, though to some degree physical location may obviously exert influence on our point of view. But more specifically, “where” we are in life and circumstance hold tremendous sway on our perspective(s). For instance, your perspective on taxation is greatly influenced by whether you’re paying ‘big’ taxes and receiving ‘small’ benefits, or receiving ‘big’ benefits and paying ‘little’ taxes. As the saying goes, “It depends on which side of the fence you’re on.” The same is true for many, if not most, issues; even those that are more spiritual (and therefore) eternal in nature…

First, let’s note three attributes of God from Psalm 139:

His omniscience (God is all-knowing), vv.1-6, “Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”
His omnipresence (God is everywhere; by knowledge and influence more than location), vv.7-12, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”
His omnipotence (God is all powerful), vv.13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

Now think about how our of perspective of God- especially in regard to the three attributes covered above, is influenced by “where” we are:

His omniscience is a great comfort to those who “trust and obey” Him, but a discomfort to those who don’t. To the obedient child of God, His omniscience provides solace knowing that He ever sees (watches over and cares for) His own. But to the one “outside,” the perspective of Him changes to One who constantly watches in order to judge or condemn. God remains the same, but our perspective of Him varies greatly depending on “where” we are!
His omnipotence is a source of strength and confidence to those who have allied themselves with Him, but terrifying expectation to those who aren’t. It a tremendous source of strength and confidence to one who knows the all-powerful God is “on/by my side” (probably better that we are on His side), but “it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living (and all-powerful) God,” cf. Heb.10:26-31. God’s power does not change, but our perspective of it sure does depending on “where” we are!
His omnipresence is a great reassurance to His own because they know that no matter wherever life takes them, He is there with them. But to those who refuse to submit and belong to Him, there is no place to which they can flee to escape His knowledge and influence (remember Jonah!). God is the same God, but our perspective of Him sure does depending on “where” we are!

Now with these things in mind, it’s pretty easy at this point to tell “where” you are spiritually and eternally. Just examine your own perspective of God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence and it will pinpoint you far better than any satellite can.