What is Infinity?
The infinity of God is something we accept but often fail to examine just what that means. Definitionally, it means that God is unlimited in time or space. The dictionary defines infinite as “limitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate.” But from a practical standpoint, what does that mean to us on an everyday basis?
His infinity defines His perspective. God created the concept of time for us, a way of measuring the hours, weeks, months, and years. Because God is eternal time is nothing to Him. He alway was, He always will be. Mark 2:27 reads “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” God made the Sabbath to give us a day of rest. In the Genesis account of Creation, we are told that God created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. While I do not question that God created the universe, I feel like the seven-day period is for our benefit. What does it take for an all-powerful God to create something? If I am going to build something, it will take me time. At the end of the project I will probably be tired and rest. I don’t think God got tired creating the universe and I certainly don’t think he needed a day of rest. He was telling us that’s what we need. God’s perspective is eternity.
His infinity also defines His resources. A popular saying in Christendom is that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Guess what? He also owns the hills. In Psalm 24:1 David is praising God “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it? The world, and we, are His. We are custodians of the earth given to us by God to care for. With such unlimited resources, God can provide all our needs.
His infinity defines His power. He is often referred to as omnipotent – all powerful. We may marvel at such man-made things as a space rocket, at the power that we have at our fingertips when using a computer, at a magnificent work of art. But they pale when compared to God’s power. He created beauty in the world. He created magnificent animals on land and sea. We may not understand why but he creates the weather including hurricanes and the like. His power knows no bounds.
The infinity of God is also reflected in His knowledge. He is referred to as omniscient – all knowing. He knows our every thought before we even think it. I think of the time when 12-year old Jesus was in the temple. Luke 2:46-47 reads “they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Where did he get this knowledge? I believe this was a divine interlude in Jesus’ human experience.
God’s infinity is also defined in his presence. In Jesus’ last words on earth he said “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). His presence is always with us, we are never alone. This is God’s omnipresence – he is everywhere all the time. In Psalm 139:7 we see David expressing God’s omnipotence and His omnipresence “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”
But I think the ultimate expression of God’s infinity is His love and mercy. His love was so great that Jesus came to save us from what we deserved – He took the penalty for our sins; for every sin that everyone ever has or will commit. Ephesians 2:4-5 reads “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” God’s love is so infinite that it can cover our sins. The only catch is that we must accept his sacrifice.
We, obviously, do not have God’s infinity. But that should not stop us from trying to be more like Him in all these ways. We can use our time wisely, we can share our resources with those in need, we can use our knowledge and power for good. We can be there for those in need, we can love people with a Godly love.
