The Discipline Of Contemplating God's Greatness Series

**The Discipline of Contemplating God's Greatness**

Over the next few weeks, I want us to contemplate the greatness of God together.

If I'm honest, I don't do this nearly enough. My attention gets consumed by the ups and downs of daily life, the relentless news cycle, the tasks that feel urgent and pressing. Before I know it, my entire world shrinks down to just my small corner of existence, and I lose sight of the awesomeness of God.

But here's what I'm learning: intentionally pondering the Being who exists far beyond my little universe brings me hope. It gives me confidence. It fills me with courage. In fact, contemplating God's greatness might be one of the most vital spiritual disciplines we can practice. Without it, we're vulnerable to despair and hopelessness.

So let's begin where Scripture begins — in Genesis. We all know Genesis 1:1, but we tend to rush right past it, eager to get to the fascinating details of creation. Today, let's slow down. Right here at the very start of the Bible, we discover profound truths about who God is.

**In the Beginning**

Let's start with that word: beginning.

It's more significant than we might first realize. The very concept of a beginning is difficult to grasp. Try to imagine a time when there was no universe — when there was no "time" at all. It's almost impossible. Yet the Bible declares there was indeed a beginning, and in that beginning, God already existed. This tells us something extraordinary: God exists outside the boundaries of time and space. This alone sets Him apart from anything else we can know or even conceive of.

**What Science Tells Us**

Now, I'm not a scientist, astronomer, or physicist. But I've done enough reading and listening to know that modern science has discovered compelling evidence that our universe had a beginning. And yes, while many of the scholars I've learned from are believers, they confirm that even scientists who don't believe in God have reached this same conclusion.

The evidence points to an expanding universe. And if the universe is expanding, logic dictates it must have expanded from something — a starting point. Here's where science hits a wall: the laws of physics as we understand them cannot explain how there could be a beginning. There's no natural explanation for something coming from nothing.

**The Problem with Eternity**

So could the universe simply be eternal? That creates its own set of problems.

Consider the second law of thermodynamics. In simple terms, it states that over time, heat disperses and temperatures equalize. Picture leaving a hot cup of coffee in a cold room — eventually, it reaches room temperature. The same principle would apply to the universe. If the universe had existed for eternity, all temperatures would have already equalized. Everything would be the same temperature. Yet that's not what we observe. The sun still burns. Stars still radiate heat. This suggests the universe hasn't been around forever.

Then there's the philosophical problem of infinite time. If an eternal past existed, we'd need an infinite chain of yesterdays leading to today. But how could we ever arrive at "today" if there were literally endless days before it? The very fact that we experience the present moment suggests time had a starting point.

**Our Eternal God**

This brings us back to Genesis: In the beginning, God.

Scripture reveals that God stands above and outside His creation. Yes, this stretches beyond what our finite minds can fully comprehend — it requires faith. But this is the God revealed in His Word: a Being with no beginning, unlimited by time or space, unbound by the physical laws that govern our universe.

Listen to how Scripture describes this quality of God:

*Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.* (Psalm 90:2)

*A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.* (Psalm 90:4)

*"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."* (Revelation 1:8)

*Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.* (1 Timothy 1:17)

This is our God. Pause and contemplate that. Eternal.

**What This Means for Us**

What difference does God's eternality make?

It means He is not subject to the limitations of time and space that bind us. And honestly, I find tremendous comfort in that.

You've probably heard older folks say they're "past their prime." It's an acknowledgment that time takes its toll. We can't do what we once could. Our minds slow down. Our bodies wear out. As the saying goes, Father Time remains undefeated. Every one of us experiences the relentless effects of time — the chaos, the decay.