A Truth to Believe

What does it mean that God is transcendent?

God's transcendence refers to his infinite greatness, distance, and distinction from all of creation. God is utterly unique–separate from everything he has made and infinitely superior to it in every way. He is separate, exalted, existing above and beyond his creation. God is wholly other, in a class by himself, and the only truly self-sufficient being.

Like an author existing above and outside his story or an artist over his work, God is not part of creation. Though infinitely exalted above us, God is not distant or uninvolved. He exercises divine authority and control over all things as the loving king of this universe. Furthermore, God graciously chooses to be actively engaged in the world he created. He freely enters into his story and his masterful work, and reveals himself truly and clearly within the world he has made.

God's transcendence also means that he is free from every limitation and completely distinct from creation. God is Spirit. He is not confined to a physical body, space, and time––although the eternal Son took on human flesh and entered into this world. Additionally, God is greater than all creation. He is independent and self-existent. We need and depend upon God, but God does not need or depend upon anything outside of himself. God is also unchanging, fully united in his thoughts, feelings, and actions. He is absolute purity and perfection, holy, sovereign, and the source and standard of all that is right, good, and true. God's transcendence is a reminder that he is God, and we are not.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 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).

Something about Living

Yesterday was our oldest son's fifteenth birthday. Words fail to express the depths, sorrows, and challenges that this young man––and by extension we as his family––has walked through in those years.

Yet, the joy, pleasures, delights, and blessings that those fifteen years have included are even more miraculous and supernatural. Oh but for the daily grace of God to see us through.

Although it is God's word that establishes truth in the life of a Christian, life experience often confirms it. These past fifteen years have confirmed several things about God’s character.

Yesterday, I wrote out six realities that I have seen about God as I reflected on these years with our boy.

1. God is astoundingly faithful even when life feels incomprehensibly challenging.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

2. God is absolutely good even though life can be ridiculously hard.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)

3. God is incomparably enough and better than all that creation has to give.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. (Psalm 63:3)

4. God is unquestionably near even when life is perplexing and heartbreaking.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

5. God is abundant in his mercy, and we can never exhaust his resources.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4–5).

6. God is the only true place for stability, rest, peace, and security.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1–2)

What a blessing and joy it is to be your parents, Levi. We love you more than we can ever express!

A Quote

“How can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God? The rule for doing this is simple but demanding. It is that we turn each truth that we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God.”

J. I. Packer

A Resource

If you are looking for a summer read, then check out Theo of Golden. If you prefer to listen the Audible reader is excellent!

Also, here is a recent podcast with the author.