The infinity of God removes man from the center of the universe in man’s own conception. In other words, God is infinite and all that there is in the universe came into being through Him (John 1:1-3). When God breathed these words in John, He meant far more by them than they or we could or can imagine. This should humble man in the dust. The universe is not just the result of some inanimate causative force or big bang, it is the very handiwork of the living and infinite God. Because God is infinite, the universe may very well be infinite in relation to man. All that there is declares the glory of God. We should be thankful to scientists that in their work, whether knowingly or not, tell us of the glory of God. This should teach us that if God is infinite, then there is nothing in any location that is apart from Him and in some way derives existence and meaning from Him. This means that all is about God.
Infinity and Self-Centeredness
This attribute of God should teach us to see that life is all about the infinite God and that we relate to Him as our source and meaning. Man cannot find real meaning in and of himself as alone he is a speck of dust. When man lives for himself in self-love and self-centeredness, it is sin but also the ultimate blindness and absurdity.
What meaning can a speck of dust find in the vastness of this universe? This is something like a cartoon a few years ago. Calvin (not John Calvin, but of Calvin and Hobbes fame) is screaming into the vast sky with stars all over that “I am significant.” In the next frame it says: “screams the speck of dust.” That is really what modern man is doing. He is nothing but a speck of dust living on a planet which itself is a speck of dust in the universe and yet he is screaming that he is significant. How absurd that man thinks that he has meaning in and of himself in the face of such a universe and even more in the presence of God. How absurd is self-centeredness in the face of the universe and even more in light of the almighty God who created the universe and upholds it every moment. Man is indeed but an absurd and meaningless accident in a massive universe unless God is.
Infinity, God and Meaning
It is only when man is linked to the infinite God that he can find real meaning. It tells man to look for the purpose of life and of the universe in God. It tells man what the void within in him is that continues to scream for something far bigger than itself. Indeed, as has been said, longing for infinity is built into the heart of man. When one begins to understand just how absurdly small and meaningless he is apart from living to the glory of God, this removes the meaning of life in living and finding meaning in and for self. Now man can see that he must live in union with this infinite God in order to obtain any meaning in life at all. Now the Great Commandments make sense. It is only when man loves God that man is able to love another human being or anything at all. When man begins to see that all other human beings are linked to God, he realizes that he cannot love anything or anyone unless he loves the One who created them. One can have feelings for things and other people, but if not for God the feelings are really for self in that man looks to other people and things only for self. But in loving the infinite God man is freed from self-love and can now really love. I John 4:7-8 teaches that no one loves but those who know and are born of God. True love as it flows from God and back to God through all things gives life meaning.
Infinity and Glory
Isa 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? 14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.16 Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering.17 All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?
These verses declare what glory the infinite God has. There is no way to measure Him or calculate His greatness and glory. Let us put our hands over our mouths and bow in worship of this glorious God. In this way our theology will be worship and our churches will have less strife because of self-centeredness. It really is all about Him. Let this teach us that we can spend the rest of our lives and eternity delighting and satisfying our souls in the limitless and immeasurable God. We can’t drink the ocean dry, and far less can we empty the glory of the infinite God.
God Loves... Himself 
May 6, 2012 at 2:31 am |
truth.