God is iInfinity and Infinity is God

 

[1]

Psalm 147:5 New American Standard Bible

⁵ Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

 

The NASB gives a marginal reading for [a] (the word “infinite”) as literally “innumerable.”

In 1968 I took a graduate course in Mathematics labeled Set Theory. There was a very astute Catholic nun in our class. We sort of gravitated to each other because we both openly identified ourselves as Christian. We often compared notes with each other and encouraged each other in the faith. One day our teacher talked about infinity. An obviously infinite set is the regular counting numbers[2] Z = {1, 2, 3, …}. This set Z is clearly infinite because there is no biggest number. [You can reason that if x is the biggest number in Z then clearly x + 1 is also n Z, so our assumption was false.]

Our teacher then reasoned that the set of all fractions Q of integers is also infinite because it contains the integers [{1/1, 2/1. 3/1, …} are all fractions.] He then proceeded to show that Q has no more numbers in it than Z. So, he called this kind of infinity countable or numerable. Then our teacher went on to show that the set of all real numbers R is infinite, but Cantor proved very ingeniously that R is not numerable. So, the infinity of R is a bigger infinity than that of Z. We call it uncountable or innumerable.

Realizing that there are at least two different infinities, one bigger than the other, the natural question is: “Are there more infinities, even bigger than the two we have discovered?” He went on to show that there are bigger and bigger infinities.

My nun friend and I walked out, both of our heads buzzing with this new concept we had talked about. Finally, she looked at me and stated, “I don’t care about all that. For me God is Infinity and Infinity is God! That’s all I need to know!”

Is God infinite for you? If so what kind of infinity is your God? How does this affect your concept of God?

---

[1] https://i.ytimg.com/vi/egPANcJWOWs/maxresdefault.jpg

[2] We use Z because the word for counting numbers in German is Zahle. We use Q because the set of fractions can be described as the set of quotients of integers. And we use R for all numbers including numbers that are not quotients of integers, such as π, √2, √3, e, etc.

Double-Edged Sword

 

[1]

Hebrews 4:12-13 Contemporary English Version

¹² God's word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. ¹³ Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.

 

We recently attended a Wycliffe Associates Summit here in California. They accentuated the transformation native speakers undergo when they read the Bible in their own language. The translators especially are changed because they have spent genuine time actually understanding God’s word and then expressing it in their own heart language.

Some of my fellow believers ask me if it wouldn’t be better to donate what I give for Bible translation to church evangelism instead. As we discovered in Tanzania many years ago, where people used an English or a Swahili version of the Bible to study for themselves. I heard them say, “But this is in the language of our oppressors.” Indeed, the English were the most recent rulers of Tanzania, and Swahili is a language created by the Arabs who used it in the slave trade. It can be difficult to learn about love and grace in a language normally associated with oppression.

But then, some argue, what if people misinterpret the meaning of the text? That is the same argument the Catholic Church made in order to restrict the use of Scripture throughout the Dark Ages. Some experts claim there are over 9,000 Christian denominations in the United States alone (over 33,000 worldwide). See what happens when each person is able to read the Bible and form his/her own opinion about the Truth of God?

God’s Word is alive! It is causing people to think about what message God has for them. It is the Holy Spirit’s duty to teach each person what he wants them to believe as well as what He wants them to do. It is only the active intervention of the Holy Spirit in our lives that prepares us for heaven, that applies God’s grace to the individual believer.

Just as God used human instruments to write His words contained in the Bible, God has given people the privilege for making His Word available to every to every nation, kindred, tongue and people[2] in their heart language.

Thank You, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to help spread Your Word to all of mankind. And Thank You also that it is not our assignment to police how Your Holy Spirit chooses to use this Word.

---

[1] https://clipground.com/images/gods-words-clipart-3.png

[2] Revelation 14 :6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”

 

Peace During Stress

 

[1]

 

John 11:25 Contemporary English Version

²⁵ Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die.”

 

It has been 18 years since my prostate cancer was diagnosed. The cancer has subsided and then reared its ugly head several times over those years. Currently it is in remission, for which I am very thankful. If there is one thing the cancer has taught me, it is that when cancer goes into remission it will return. So, I don’t use the word “Cure.”

Throughout this period, I have had an almost strange calmness. I have told myself several times, Wil, you have lived a good life! You have many promises from God’s word that after you die you shall live again. I think this has been a continuing reassurance to me. However, I am fully aware that I shall die.

The Word has promised that before Christ comes, there will a time of trouble “such as never was since there was a nation”.[2] I invite you to look back over the times of trouble that have occurred. Millions have been driven from their homes and had their homes destroyed. They have suffered with no clothes in the severest of weather. They have had little or nothing to eat or drink. They have been totally homeless with no one who cares for them. Many times, their corpses have lain where they have fallen. Remember the killing fields in Cambodia and the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

Being an old man, I shall not endure the time of trouble for long, not long enough to see the coming of Christ. That is why I treasure Christ’s promise that he will raise me to life!

I invite you, dear Reader, to accept Christ’s offer of life and salvation that is offered to us free and without any merit of ours. You may ask, “Do you have any concrete evidence of the validity of his promise?” Yes, the evidence that He has stood by me for these long years and fulfilled my every need upon request. If you choose to remain skeptical, you not only lose out, but you also fulfill prophecy that there will be scoffers in the last days.[3]

 

Dear Lord, grant Your Peace to each person who reads this blog  knowing that they, too, are included in Your promise.

 

 

---

[1] paradise images - Bing images

[2] Daniel 12:1

[3] 2 Peter 3: 3-4. But first you must realize that in the last days some people won't think about anything except their own selfish desires. They will make fun of you ⁴ and say, “Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet the first leaders have already died, and the world hasn't changed a bit.”