General Revelation and Eternity

On Wednesdays we “walk in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today we begin a five-week series on knowing God through General revelation. We will focus on God's attribute of eternity and His eternal power.

Key Verse: Romans 1:19-20
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The Holy Spirit reveals creation as the arena to behold God’s “invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and Divine nature." Paul's claim is not unique to Paul. Psalm 8 and Psalm 19 both celebrate God revealing Himself through creation. Specifically, Psalm 19:1-3 states that God’s creation “declares… proclaims… pours out speech… reveals knowledge” of God and His glory. Passages such as Isaiah 40:25-26 invite God's people to look to the night sky to learn about God's power and careful ordering. God's activity in and through nature is described as a "witness" to His providential involvement in history (Acts 14:17), His character (Lamentations 3:22-23), and even a guarantee of His covenant promises (Jeremiah 33:20-21).

Paul describes God's power as eternal because God is eternal, described elsewhere as "everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 41:13 and Psalm 90:2). The Hebrew word for "everlasting" ( הָֽעוֹלָ֗ם) connects God’s eternal person, His eternal covenantal plan, and what it means for His people to be created with eternity in our hearts (see Psalm 103:17 and Ecclesiastes 3:11 especially).

The eternity in our heart hungers for the eternal reality of God's steadfast love, discerning signposts of our eternal God through creation. God uses signposts in creation to draw people to Himself. For example, consider Dr. Hugh Ross, the founder of the apologetic ministry Reasons To Believe. Dr. Ross was converted from atheist cosmology student to Christ, from the big bang to belief in God, first through his study of space. You can read His story HERE.

Aristotle described God as "the unmoved mover," an important phrase adding potency to God's creating the world "from nothing" (Hebrews 11:3) and an essential category we will unpack as we engage the eternality of God, His power and eternal purposes as revealed in His creation.

God wants you to know Him, generally through creation and specially through the person and work of Jesus Christ. To know God's eternal power through creation will propel you to know His eternal, covenantal, love. May this short series move souls towards the unmovable steadfast love of the Lord, the enteral hunger in our hearts finding satisfaction in the Maker of heaven and earth.

Richly Dwelling
- Do you take time to appreciate God's creation? Why or why not?

-What do you learn about God from the beauty of His world? Creation still speaks, according to the Psalms... what is God revealing to you about Himself through His handiwork?

-Do you want to know God more, His person, power, and purposes? What does the time you take to appreciate the beauty of His creation say about the hunger of your heart?

Key Verse: Romans 1:19-20
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.