The Transcendence of God

What challenges you are facing today?Have these things become the center of your world - have they become bigger than God?

The most radical treatment for the fear of man or situations is the fear of God. When you meet the transcendent God, you are in connection with Someone who is infinitely greater than yourself and situations, qualitatively superior, and perfect in every way.

He is greater than your fear of people, problems, and your needs.
When God is first, when He is your life, when God is big, then everything else you face will be put into perspective.
Understanding the transcendence of God and the big picture will move us to conviction, confession, conversion, and to the calling He has on our lives.

The word transcendence means: to exist above and independent from; to rise above, surpass, succeed.

Today, we are going to talk about:

1. The Transcendence of God

2. The Big Picture

3. Why we need to understand both

The Transcendence of God

When the Scriptures describe God as being far above His creation it isn’t referring to physical distance but a quality of being and life that is immeasurably higher than any we could ever imagine. The Triune God’s character is infinitely superior over any other created thing (1 Tim 6:15-16).

When we try to imagine these attributes of God in relationship to ourselves or any created being it is hard to imagine Someone who is infinitely greater, qualitatively superior, and perfect in every way.

His ways are supremely higher than ours and even the way God thinks is so far above the way we think (Isa 55:8-9).

God is the only truly transcendent Being. The “LORD God Almighty” (in Hebrew, El Shaddai) created all things on the earth, beneath the earth and in the heavens above, yet He exists above and independent from them (1 Chron 29:11-12).

The Bible clearly informs us that God is both transcendent and everywhere present. He sees the end from the beginning and has revealed Himself to His creation in nature, in history, and through human experience, so there can be no uncertainty about who He is (Psalm 113:4-6; Isaiah 57:15).

God, in His transcendence is so far above us in every aspect we can imagine yet He is immanent which means that He is present with His creation and makes Himself accessible to us.

In Isaiah 57:15, God is transcendent, dwelling in a high and holy place, but He also lives with those who have a contrite, humble spirit and in His compassion, restores those whose hearts have been crushed – crushed by sin or circumstances.

The Big Picture

Because God is the greatest possible Being who has absolute and ultimate authority, who defines the purpose for which everything exists, human beings have an ultimate objective meaning and purpose for their existence.

Our purpose is an objective purpose for human existence that comes from a transcendent Being, from God the Creator of all things and goes beyond the run of the mill, everyday details of life.

When mankind sinned all of creation suffered, all was out of harmony with the Creator. But God’s plan throughout the ages, according to the apostle Paul, is to re-unite all things in Christ and restore mankind and all of creation back to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus revealed a life and purpose which was from above. He revealed God’s grand plan for mankind which was made possible through His substitutionary death on the Cross for our sins.

And being reunited with God is only possible through Jesus. You cannot attain harmony and restoration with God through any other means and you will never know what your ultimate purpose in life is or understand the big picture apart from this restored relationship with God.

Why it is important to understand both God’s Transcendence and the Big Picture

Because of your new relationship with the transcendent God, you have access to a peace that passes knowledge and goes beyond natural understanding. Any person that has truly met the transcendent God will never be the same.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah saw God for who He is (Transcendent) and the Jezebel words and threats for what they were (nothing), Elijah did what the Lord told him to do and completed the work and purpose God had for him.

Isaiah, as with Abraham, Moses and others who met God, were overwhelmed. They recognized God’s transcendence, they say His supreme holiness, but they also experienced His perfect forgiveness, mercy, goodness and love and were transformed by this encounter.

Let’s look at the life of Job, when his physical suffering was prolonged, he was getting pretty upset with God and wanted answers. It was almost as if Job thought God had no idea what He was doing (Job 23:4).

But when Job actually had a conversation with the transcendent God, he understood just how little he knew about God and the world around him and how presumptuous his words and attitude were (Job 42:1-3, 5).

People who had an encounter with the transcendent God, they recognized Him for who He really was and were immediately aware of their sinfulness and unworthiness to stand in His presence. Yet each one received God’s unfathomable grace and forgiveness. They were convicted of sin, cleansed, and changed and immediately took up the call of God.

It is important to have a relationship with a transcendent God, because we, like everyone else, are prone to make people, problems and situations very big and God very small.

If you really relinquished your life into God’s hands, God would meet you right there. And when we finally relinquish those things into a mighty God’s hands, we will find peace and real freedom to serve the Lord.

When more we encounter God, the more we begin to understand His transcendence, His surpassing greatness and power, make Him big and people and the circumstances around us small, He will meet us where we are, move us from the conviction of sin, to confession, to conversion, to the call to be part of the big picture in His plan of redemption and reconciliation.