Man is finite, yes, and God is infinite. But I think this logically means we cannot know God at all! Allow me to explain.
Say I want to count to ∞ (infinity). I count as fast as I can for three days straight: no food, water, or sleep, and I keep counting in the bathroom. Maybe I get to 1 million, which would be about four cardinal numbers per second. Not bad (but a waste of time, and no, I've never tried it). But at 1 million, despite all my effort, I am not the tiniest fraction of the tiniest percentage closer to infinity than I was before all my hard work. If I were, then infinity would not be infinity. It simply would be a really big -- but knowable -- number!
Now, if I really want to achieve infinity, studying and counting as fast and often as I can (i.e., trying hard) is a great way to do it. I might even use an advanced calculator that does not give up at 9.99 to the 10th power. I will gain more knowledge about numbers, and my own counting will get larger and larger. But I cannot get there.
So, too, with God -- and even more so. He is infinite not only in time and space, but also in holiness, power, glory, love, and even knowledge...to name a few. We can (and should) try our best to get to know Him, but mathematically, at least, we can never know Him one little bit. If we could, then eventually we would be able to get to know Him two little bits, then three, then fifty, then -- if God did not destroy us first -- we could get to know Him completely. In all these cases, He would be less than infinite.
Just like those in Genesis 11 who tried and failed to build a tower to heaven, somehow rivaling or surpassing God, nor can anybody else do better. (By the way, God did not confuse their language and stop the building of the Tower of Babel because He feared them. They never would have made it anyway! He simply forced them to recall their humanity and humility, and upheld the glory of His name and presence in their midst. "Do not be deceived," Galatians 6 affirms, "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.")
The Bible frequently reveals God's awesome greatness (so inadequate a word!). Genesis 1 and 45, Exodus 33 and 34, Deuteronomy 4 and 10, 1 Kings 8, Job 38-41, Psalm 8, 99, 103, 104, 121, and 139, Isaiah 40, 55, and 64, Ezekiel 1, Joel 2, Luke 2, 7, 9, and 24, John 1, 8, 11, 17, and 20, Romans 1, Colossians 1, and Revelation 4, 19, and 22.
These and other chapters of God's Word show us how vast and unapproachable God is -- unmatchable and unassailable. He is called holy, loving, merciful, gracious, faithful, powerful, and so much more. But we toss these words around so easily and so casually. We have no idea what it is like to have any, let alone all, these traits perfectly. Absolutely without flaw or hiccup or gap. Ponder this example.
In English, what is a common way to describe another person whom we like or respect? "He's a good guy." Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19: "No one is good but One, that is, God." No one! Maybe Jesus was echoing Psalm 14 (also quoted in Romans 3), "There is none who does good, no, not one." Perhaps He recalled Isaiah 64: "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
So, following the numerical infinity logic: a) God is [perfectly / infinitely] good; b) we are not good and do not do good -- because "good" by God's standard is so high; therefore c) we can (and should) try our best to be good, but all we will achieve is a bigger and bigger pile of rags. In other words, we cannot really know what God's goodness is like because its very nature is utterly unique, just as infinity's nature precludes us from ever counting to it. And supreme goodness is just one of God's unfathomable characteristics!
Ok, are you ready for the final surprise? I pray this will be a grand finale well worth the wait...
Say I want to count to ∞ (infinity). I count as fast as I can for three days straight: no food, water, or sleep, and I keep counting in the bathroom. Maybe I get to 1 million, which would be about four cardinal numbers per second. Not bad (but a waste of time, and no, I've never tried it). But at 1 million, despite all my effort, I am not the tiniest fraction of the tiniest percentage closer to infinity than I was before all my hard work. If I were, then infinity would not be infinity. It simply would be a really big -- but knowable -- number!
Now, if I really want to achieve infinity, studying and counting as fast and often as I can (i.e., trying hard) is a great way to do it. I might even use an advanced calculator that does not give up at 9.99 to the 10th power. I will gain more knowledge about numbers, and my own counting will get larger and larger. But I cannot get there.
So, too, with God -- and even more so. He is infinite not only in time and space, but also in holiness, power, glory, love, and even knowledge...to name a few. We can (and should) try our best to get to know Him, but mathematically, at least, we can never know Him one little bit. If we could, then eventually we would be able to get to know Him two little bits, then three, then fifty, then -- if God did not destroy us first -- we could get to know Him completely. In all these cases, He would be less than infinite.
Just like those in Genesis 11 who tried and failed to build a tower to heaven, somehow rivaling or surpassing God, nor can anybody else do better. (By the way, God did not confuse their language and stop the building of the Tower of Babel because He feared them. They never would have made it anyway! He simply forced them to recall their humanity and humility, and upheld the glory of His name and presence in their midst. "Do not be deceived," Galatians 6 affirms, "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.")
The Bible frequently reveals God's awesome greatness (so inadequate a word!). Genesis 1 and 45, Exodus 33 and 34, Deuteronomy 4 and 10, 1 Kings 8, Job 38-41, Psalm 8, 99, 103, 104, 121, and 139, Isaiah 40, 55, and 64, Ezekiel 1, Joel 2, Luke 2, 7, 9, and 24, John 1, 8, 11, 17, and 20, Romans 1, Colossians 1, and Revelation 4, 19, and 22.
These and other chapters of God's Word show us how vast and unapproachable God is -- unmatchable and unassailable. He is called holy, loving, merciful, gracious, faithful, powerful, and so much more. But we toss these words around so easily and so casually. We have no idea what it is like to have any, let alone all, these traits perfectly. Absolutely without flaw or hiccup or gap. Ponder this example.
In English, what is a common way to describe another person whom we like or respect? "He's a good guy." Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19: "No one is good but One, that is, God." No one! Maybe Jesus was echoing Psalm 14 (also quoted in Romans 3), "There is none who does good, no, not one." Perhaps He recalled Isaiah 64: "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
So, following the numerical infinity logic: a) God is [perfectly / infinitely] good; b) we are not good and do not do good -- because "good" by God's standard is so high; therefore c) we can (and should) try our best to be good, but all we will achieve is a bigger and bigger pile of rags. In other words, we cannot really know what God's goodness is like because its very nature is utterly unique, just as infinity's nature precludes us from ever counting to it. And supreme goodness is just one of God's unfathomable characteristics!
Ok, are you ready for the final surprise? I pray this will be a grand finale well worth the wait...
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