By Grant B. Sullivan
Some things concerning God are more difficult than others to explain adequately. This article is one that is very humbling, as it is my objective to paint a picture of what is referred to as the omnipotence of God. Omnipotence is the power or strength of God. The word omnipotence is a combination of two words that could literally be stated as meaning “all power”. This is hard to understand, because as humans we are limited in our power. We can all remember a time in our lives when our strength gave out. I recently was helping another preacher move, and after moving several large pieces of furniture I began to weaken. So how can we comprehend omnipotence? Nevertheless, we see the power of God throughout the pages of God’s word. It is important to note that God can do anything so long as it does not contradict His nature. In other words, God’s power, authority, and will are all equal to His nature. Therefore, we understand there are certain things God cannot do, such as to lie (Titus 1:2). To this we remember the words: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3). Although we may never fully comprehend the power of God, we can see it through four major ways:
God is the Creator of everything that exists. Man has been capable of making a lot of wonderful things throughout history. Our technology is advancing at such a rate that with each passing moment while I type this article there has probably been another invention or improvement. However, we are incapable of creating anything. To create is “to cause to come into being” (Random House Unabridged Dictionary). As a story I once heard says, “One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell God that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you. We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many incredible things, so why don’t you just go on and get lost.” God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, “Very well, how about this, let’s say we have a man making contest.” To which the scientist replied, “OK, great!” But God added, “Now, we’re going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.” The scientist said, “Sure, no problem” and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, “No, you go get your own dirt!” When one reads of the creation we see that God simply spoke all things into existence. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host” (Psalm 33:6). “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself” (Isaiah 44:24). The apostle Paul would refer to this fact when he wrote that God “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17). A careful look into the first chapter of Genesis will depict the omnipotence of God even clearer when we read time and again: “And God said…and it was so”. It took no more effort for God to create all the stars in the universe than it did for Him to create the butterfly. As the poem states:
Away out there, alone, above,
Without a thing to make it of,
The world was made without a flaw,
Without a hammer or a saw.
Without a bit of wood or stone,
Without a bit of flesh or bone,
Without a board or nail or screw,
Or anything to nail it to.
Without a foothold or trace
Of anything at all but space
The only thing the Lord could do
Was simply speak a word or two.
And then without apparent cause,
A thing that was not, now then was.
And if the story told be true,
The world came boldly into view.
-Author Unknown
In other words, God’s power is seen in that He not only created the world in which we live, but He is also its Sustainer. The Hebrew writer states, “He upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Again it is written, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9). The years come and go and generations pass away, but here we live today in the same world that was long ago created (Ecclesiastes 1:4). How can this be the case? It is only because of the omnipotence of God. He is so powerful that He is never “off His game”. Often times we make some of our biggest blunders when we are exhausted. There have been times when I would be working on a project at work, and would make a major error. Because He is all powerful, we do not have to worry that God is going to make a fatal mistake some day and the world fall to pieces.
This is in reference to God’s redemptive plan for mankind. Thereby we see that God has not only shown His power through being the Creator and Sustainer but His power is also seen as our Redeemer. When we consider that God did not have any opposition in the creation, but does against His scheme of redemption, then we could say His omnipotence is shown here more than the aforementioned. We understand that it is through the preaching of common everyday men that this wonderful gospel message is spread. Therefore, we see more clearly that the message of God is truly the power (Romans 1:16). Paul wrote, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). The preaching of average men “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). The power of the gospel accomplishes great things regardless of who is doing the preaching. This shows the omnipotence of God.
That is to say He is not only the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer but is also our Rewarder. We have the promise of a great “payment” (2 Corinthians 5:10), if we remain faithful to God. As the scriptures teach us, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). What a glorious day that truly will be “when we all get to heaven”. This day will come just as sure as I am sitting here writing this article. As Jesus once said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29). Only the power of God can bring the dead back to life, and provide the reward to all according to what has been done in the body. One of my favorite songs speaks of this reward with the following words:
What a glad thought some wonderful morning
I shall hear Gabriel's trumpet sound.
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
Rising to meet my blessed Redeemer,
With a glad shout I'll leave the ground,
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
When I wake up (on some glad morning)
To sleep no more (jewels adorning)
Happy I'll be (over in glory)
On Heaven's bright shore (telling the story)
With the redeemed of all the ages
Praising the One whom I adore.
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
Glory to God I'll have a new body,
Changed in the twinkling of an eye.
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
Leaving behind all trouble and sorrow,
Bound for that city up on high.
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
I shall behold the beauties of heaven
With the redeemed of ev'ry race,
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
'Neath the green trees beside the still waters
I shall then find a resting place
When I wake up (when I wake up) to sleep no more (to sleep no more).
We can begin to comprehend from Scripture that God is omnipotent. We might not be able to understand every detail and depth of His awesome power, but we cannot deny that the power exists with Him. This should serve as our motivation to turn and serve Him all the days of our lives. If we continue with Him in this life, we will continue with Him throughout eternity. I pray this is true of us all.