The Existence of God
Ze- Gabrielwa
The name God signifies the Divine Being, meaning He who created the world and governs it. There is one invisible and inscrutable Almighty God who created all things; He is eternal who has neither beginning nor end, mighty in His work who revealed Himself to mankind as written in the scriptures (EX.3: 6)
Some of the ways that prove the existence of the eternal God are the following.
Creation: - man has sought to understand the Being of God and has discovered ways that lead to the knowledge of the existence of God. Every thing has its causes- a painting has a painter, a book has an author, and a chair has a carpenter. For all things that move, there is a moving force behind them.
Accordingly, it is believed that all creations were not rough in to existence without a creator. All existing creations ranging from the minute to the great, from the living to the non-living lead to the acknowledgement of the Being of God.
Solomon said "Yes, vain are all who are unaware of God, and from things seen, they have not bee able to discover Him; [they] have not recognized the Artificer...Let them know their creator seeing the sun and the moon" (wis. 13:1-10)
Job also has expressed the same issue: "But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare un to thee .Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?"(Job.12:7-9)
St. David also( psalms 19:1-2) tells us that "The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows His handy-work" As St. Paul has stated clearly, God is known to His creations by the things that are made when he said, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made by His eternal power and God head so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19-20)
A person who is looking at a sailing ship in the sea should know that it is being guided by a navigator. In the same manner, it must be realized that there is God who guides the universe, though He is not seen to bodily eyes.
St. John Chrysostom, in his Homily, in which he interpreted this epistle of the Apostle said, God brought all and every thing out of nothing in to being to manifest His glory through His works.
As the spirit of human beings is invisible but is known by the state of motion, God is invisible to bodily eyes, but is manifested and known through His will and works. (John Chrysostom Homily; Rom.1:19)
The Law of conscience: - "The gentiles do not have the law, but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the law. Their conduct shows that what the law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them" (rom.2:14-15). Man does good and refrains from evil due to his spiritual conscience; when he does evil things, he feels guilty conscious. If a person does good or bad, his conscience witnesses that he would be recompensed or condemned. This type of conscience leads to the knowledge of God, who recompenses every one according to his deeds.
History: - The history of mankind testifies that no people lived in the world without religious belief. Ever since the existence of the human race on earth, all human beings worshipped other god or gods in their own ways, All this shows existence of one true God. If God does not exist, where could man find the sense of worship? (Acts. 14:11-17:17:26-29)
It is widely written and explained in the Holy Scriptures about the existence of God and His attributes. These are:-
Holiness: - God is Holy and has no attachment with evils. He Himself has said, "Be holy, because I the Lord your God, am holy" (Lev. 19:2; 1Pet 1:16). He is always glorified by the angels. "Holy! Holy! Holy!" (Isa.6:3)
Love: - God is love. He loves his creatures and gives all what is good to them. 1Jn. 4:8. His Incarnation also signifies his love. (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 5:5)
Righteousness: - God is all truth. He is the judge of all (1sam.2:2; Tim.4:8). John, in his revelation says, "'Then I heard a voice from the altar saying, Lord God the Almighty! True and just indeed are your judgments" (Rev.16:7)
Wisdom: - When we see and contemplate creation and the natural laws, we understand the perfect wisdom of God. Admiring the wisdom of God, the Prophet David says "O Lord, how manifold are Your creatures" (Ps.104:2).
Furthermore, there are attributes which particularly belong to God. These are:-
Omnipotence: - God is Almighty. Nothing is impossible to him. He has unlimited authority. He can do all what He wills to. He himself has said to Abraham, "I am God the Almighty"(Gen.17:1; 18:14; Lk.1:37).
Omniscience: - God knows all and everything before it comes to pass and knows things before they are thought or done. (Ps. 139:2; Jn.2:25)
Omnipresence: - The Eternal and True God can not be limited in time and space. He is beyond time and space. He is always present everywhere. He is not limited in heaven though it is said God is living in heaven because of His being Most High; He is not living only in heaven.
"Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or, where shall I flee from Your presence? If I asked up in to heaven, Thou art there! If I make my bed in hell, behold, You art there! If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in utter most parts of the sea; even there shall Your hand lead me and Your right hand shall hold me" (Ps.139:7-10; Jer.23:23;the 318 Father's Liturgy).
Eternal: - God is eternal and can not be limited in time. He was before time and lives endlessly (Ps. 89:1-2). He has neither beginning nor end. He is the beginning and the end. There is no change in Him. (Iss. 4:6; James.1:17). (to be continued.)
Course: the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church faith, Order of Worship and Ecumenical relations.
Praise be to God. Amen!!
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