By John R. Funk

Throughout the pages of the Bible, the character of God pours forth. Starting with the beginning of creation and ending with John's prophetic vision concerning the end times and the ultimate defeat of Satan, God reveals Himself. His personality is as wide, varied and complex as history itself.

Ultimately, He lowered Himself to become a man made manifest through the person of Jesus Christ. An examination of that life reveals certain predictable qualities such as love, compassion and grace but it also reveals other traits including passion, commitment and anger. The complete personality of God cannot be encapsulated in a sound bite and it cannot be captured in a book; however, three traits or characteristics universally associated with God are omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.

Omniscience:

This term refers to the all knowing nature of God. Webster defines it as "the quality of knowing all things at once; universal knowledge; knowledge unbounded or infinite." He knows our very thoughts, our feelings, our desires and our needs. He knows our words before we say them and he knows our thoughts before we think them. He knows all of our ways. In fact, God even knew us before we were born. There are no secrets before Almighty God. In short, God possesses superior knowledge and wisdom about everything and that knowledge is all encompassing. When we say that He knows our thoughts, what we really mean is that He knows the thoughts of every person on the planet right now, at this instant - all six billion plus people. He knows everything about everybody all the time, down to the most intimate detail. He doesn't need to read "People" magazine or the "National Inquirer" to find out what people are doing. He doesn't have to consult your family or friends to find out what you are thinking; He already knows it about you and everyone else on earth. That fact will give you pause if you dwell upon it.

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. * * * 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Ps 139:1-6, 13-16 (NIV)

You cannot pose a question that He cannot answer. Correct that - He cannot pose a question that He cannot answer. If He were to be on the game show, Jeopardy, He would answer every possible question correctly before it was asked. Having Him as a competing classmate would be a nightmare; on every exam ever administered, there would be no curve as He would have a perfect score each time.

God does not need to consult any advisors to broaden his knowledge or understanding No one taught Him any of the secrets of the universe. He served no apprenticeship and He did not receive any on-the-job training. He didn't accept a university degree or an honorary doctorate; He didn't even get a high school diploma. He didn't have to; He simply knows it all, all the time.

13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? Isa. 40:13-14 (NIV)

Not only is He fully acquainted with all of the present facts, He also prophesied the future, including the death of His Son (Isa.. 53).

The prophesies of God did not stop with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross; He has also foretold the return of Christ at the end of this age when death will be finally overcome

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:51-57 (NIV)

Man's knowledge, when compared to that of God, can only be described as insignificant, infinitesimal, miniscule or microscopic (get the picture?). Even with the technological advances that were made in the 20th century, man realizes that he has only scratched the surface of what could be known. Currently, our knowledge base doubles in less than a year with ongoing research and discoveries, yet many areas seem to resist exploration such as the infinity of space, the depths of the oceans and the complexity of the human brain. However, with our advancing knowledge, man seems to think that he is smarter than God. One man once questioned God and received a very direct and personal response.

38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Job 38:1-4 (NIV)

Job didn't understand; we still don't understand today. Further rhetorical questioning by God revealed that Job knew nothing. Neither do we when compared to God's breadth and depth of knowledge.

Omnipotence:

This term refers to the all powerful nature of God. Looking at Webster again, this is defined as "almighty power; unlimited or infinite power; a word in strictness applicable only to God." He is the all-powerful Lord who has created all things and sustains them by His Word

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1 (NIV)

3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Heb 1:3 (NIV)

What many people do not realize is that Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning and was actually the creator of all existence. He is the designer of life and light. Through Him, everything was completed. In the subsequent passage, Jesus Christ is called the "Word."

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5 (NIV)

The God of the Bible is clearly described as all-powerful and the ruler of nature and history. His power, might and authority were demonstrated at the time of creation and continued with the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. He performed numerous miracles for His people to illustrate the extent of that power. Whether it was (1) sending the ten plagues upon Egypt, (2) parting the Red Sea, (3) bringing water from rock, (4) feeding the masses with manna from heaven, (5) sending fire from heaven to defeat the prophets of Baal, (6) protecting His children in the fiery furnace or (7) voluntarily surrendering His physical life on a cross and resurrecting Himself, God provided evidence of not just His existence, but also of His power and might.

Isaiah the prophet described the omnipotent character of God. Before Him "the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the balance"

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. 16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. 17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. Isa. 40:15-17 (NIV)

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. 25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing. Isa. 40:21-26 (NIV)

We are "like grasshoppers" when compared to God; yet, in these times, many seem to equate themselves with Him. How many times have you heard someone referred to as "god of this or that?"

In the verses cited hereinabove, God Himself asks, "Who is my equal? To whom would you compare me? Who are you before me?" Standing before God, absent acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are "worthless and less than nothing." Standing before God with Jesus Christ as our Savior and our advocate, we are His children.

The following conundrum has been posed throughout my life: If God is truly omnipotent, can He create an object so large or heavy that He cannot move it? The answer, of course, is that God possesses infinite power, a power so limitless that He not only spoke the universe into being through His love, He also willing made Himself a servant and ultimately sacrificed His life to move the hearts of men. Now that is what I call power!

Omnipresence:

Omnipresence is a theological term that refers to the unlimited nature of God or His ability to be everywhere at all times. Relying upon Webster's once again, we see omnipresence defined as "presence in every place at the same time; unbounded or universal presence; ubiquity." Unlike the idols of ancient cultures or the mythical gods of Greek and Roman culture, God is not limited to one altar, one temple or one geographic area. God reveals Himself in His word as being everywhere. God was present as Lord in all creation (Ps 139:7-12), and there is no escaping Him.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Ps 139:7-12 (NIV)

He is present in our innermost thoughts. Even as we are formed in the womb, He knows and numbers all the days of our future. (Psalm 139:15-16).

Those things done in secret are not secret to God. He observes not only a person's outward actions, but more importantly, He evaluates the inner attitudes of a person's heart (Matt 6:1-18). Remember what He told Samuel when Samuel was evaluating Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Sam 16:7 (NIV)

For the believer, God actually takes up residence through the Holy Spirit and is therefore present with the believer all of the time.

38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)

Conclusion:

When I was growing up, children would sometimes taunt each other with, "My dad can beat up your dad." Of course, no one ever found out if it were true because parents were more mature than seven year olds. I know now that it is true. Despite my periodic despair and disbelief, my Father will triumph. He always has before and there is no reason, especially now, why He won't again. But it goes much further than just God's ultimate victory over Satan at the end of this age.

God knows all things, He sees all things and He is everywhere all of the time. God is the Creator of all and, through His power, He holds all things together. He plays many roles in the lives of His children; He is our Comforter, our Savior, our Redeemer and our Friend. Nay, He is more than that; He is our Father who renews our strength and our spirit. Nothing is hidden from Him and nothing is beyond His power.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:27-31 (NIV)

During the end times of the church age, people will grow weary; they will stumble and fall. However, those who rely upon the Lord for strength instead of their own power and abilities will be renewed. They will not just walk or run but they will soar like eagles.

Soaring is an attitude based upon faith in the power of God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Are you soaring with the eagles or are you chained to this earth with its worries, frustrations and hardships? You could be soaring if the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing God of the universe is your hope and your strength. It's your choice.

Comments or questions may be directed to the author.