Apostolic Friends Forum - God & the Cosmos

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God & the Cosmos

I've been studying God's omnipresence from a fresh perspective for a few weeks. However, I stumbled upon a perspective that really never "sunk in" previously until a talk I had with God while in prayer some time back. In the Bible we read the following:

Colossians 1:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

2 Chronicles 2:6a English Standard Version (ESV)
6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him?

Job 38:25 English Standard Version (ESV)
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
and a way for the thunderbolt,

Job 38:29 English Standard Version (ESV)
29 From whose womb did the ice come forth,
and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?

Job 38:37 English Standard Version (ESV)
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

Job 38:41 English Standard Version (ESV)
41 Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?

Psalm 19:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge

Psalm 42:7 English Standard Version (ESV)
7Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.

Psalm 139:7-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

Jeremiah 23:24 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Luke 12:24 English Standard Version (ESV)
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

Luke 19:40 English Standard Version (ESV)
40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Acts 17:26-28 English Standard Version (ESV)
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Romans 11:36 English Standard Version (ESV)
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Ephesians 4:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

It would appear that God is more than "omnipresent" (present everywhere) in the sense that we often consider Him to be. It would appear that all things have their being in God, and that God penetrates and permeates all of creation. From the greatest galaxies to the smallest snowflake, all these things are in God and therefore, God is in them. The entire Cosmos is then understood to "house" the Creator. However, while God is very immanent in the creation, He is transcendent in that His being extends beyond the known creation into the endless unknown expanse of reality itself. But to us we can find that God is indeed in the rain, the snow, the waters, in the storms, the trees, the sunset... even the sun, moon, and stars. That indeed all these things are in Him, and that through them He manifests His power and glory that His invisible attributes are seen in those things that are.

Romans 1:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
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.

Understanding this the realization becomes that God is closer to us than our own breath. That indeed He is in all things, nothing is common. For He permeates all creation... and transcends it as it abides in His being.

Thoughts?

P.S.
Here's a link to the talk I had with God some time ago:

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...85#post1356385

Re: God & the Cosmos

i think a problem with many Christians' perception here is that they have accepted an "us v them" doctrine, that precludes them accepting a more universal pov about God. We are indoctrinated to feel compelled to defend our own dogmatic pov of Him, thus blinding us to other povs.

Re: God & the Cosmos

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazeep (Post 1367927)

Amen.

Re: God & the Cosmos

We sometimes think of God and creation as though God created it, wound it up, and walked away or retreated to Heaven. It would appear that Scripture testifies that God fills all things and that He is the one who commands the rain, snow, waters, and all of nature itself. And it is in and through this processes that He nourishes, maintains, and cares for the creation. When we behold nature and all its beauty... we are beholding Him. And since we too are a part of this web of life... He can be seen in each and every one of us, indeed, He is in each and every one of us... yet many of us do not know, realize, or want this reality and so we attempt to be gods of our own making... instead of surrendering and being living extensions of Him (branches of the vine).

Re: God & the Cosmos

Gives some spiritual insight to loving others as ourselves... because through Him, we are all connected. When we love another... we are indeed loving ourselves. For we are all one.

Re: God & the Cosmos

There's a difference, though, between the recognition that "God is immanent within nature" vs. the thought that "God IS nature", which of course would be pantheism. The latter producing ideas such that if a tree were cut down that this somehow destroys God, or a part of God. From this, then, springs belief systems like Gaia worship, which we see in popular culture was the underlying premise of the movie Avatar.

Re: God & the Cosmos

ya, i couldn't get thru it :lol palpable pantheism

Re: God & the Cosmos

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveC519 (Post 1368034)

Amen. We must not confuse the notion that God is "immanent within nature" with the thought that "God is nature".

Re: God & the Cosmos

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazeep (Post 1368047)

ya, i couldn't get thru it :lol palpable pantheism

Actually, this biblical idea is quite different from pantheism. I believe it's understood as a biblical understanding of "panentheism". You might find more Christian sources on the concept among the ancient Greek speaking churches.

Re: God & the Cosmos

Quote:

An eclipse can only be viewed by one hemisphere at a time. If you think about it, an eclipse is when the moon and earth are fully aligned. If that is the case then only one side of the earth is going to be facing the sun when this happens.

I believe it is called a lunar eclipse when the earth gets between the sun and the moon and the earth's shadow is cast on the moon making it look red, but on the other side of the earth it would be day and the moon wouldn't be visible.

A solar eclipse is when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. This is even more rare because the moon is much smaller than the earth. That would mean that only a very small part of the earth would be able to view a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, a small portion of the earth would actually be dark because the moon would block the sun's rays. Because, the moon is much smaller than the earth the shadow of the moon would only be visible for so many square miles. This is rare and since the earth is made up of mostly water it is probably only visible in places that are mostly uninhabited.

I believe this is what took place at the crucifixion and also in Egypt when there was darkness cast over the land of Egypt. Since the moon is smaller the shadow would only cover a small area which would also explain why that the land of Goshen was not in darkness while the rest of Egypt was. I believe Egypt was experiencing a solar eclipse.

BTW, I do feel there is importance in these eclipses, but most of the people just don't know enough to really be talking with any certainty. Only God knows His time. The heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool.

I posted this on another thread and I think it interesting how God uses the natural order of things to do His will. He is not limited to the natural for He is supernatural, but He does use the natural.