IS GOD WITHIN THE SCOPE OF TIME?
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Abstract
This study argues that we live in a physical world with its four known space-time dimensions of length, width, height (or depth) and time. However, God dwells in a different realm—the spirit realm—beyond the perception of our physical senses. It opines that is not that God is not real; it is a matter of His not being limited by the physical laws and dimensions that govern our
world (Isaiah 57:15). It poses a question that: Knowing that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), what is His relationship to time? It then argues that though we cannot possibly comprehend this idea of eternity or the timelessness of God, we in our finite minds try to confine an infinite God to our time schedule. Those who foolishly demand that God operate according to their time frame
ignore the fact that He is the “High and Lofty One . . . who lives forever” (Isaiah 57:15). This description of God is far removed from man’s condition. The study asserts again that, because of our finite minds, we can only grasp the concept of God’s timeless existence in part. And in so doing, we describe Him as a God without a beginning or end, eternal, infinite, everlasting, and so on. He always was and always will be. The study holds that time is a necessary precondition for change and change is a sufficient condition to establish the passage of time. In o cannot recover the minutes that have passed by. The bottom line is this: time began when God created the universe. Since there was no matter, and because God does not change, time had no existence and therefore no meaning, no relation to Him. And this brings us to the meaning of the word eternity. God has no beginning or end. He is outside the realm of time. God is even beyond eternity. The traditional view has been that God is timeless in the sense of being outside time altogether; that is, He exists but does not exist at any point in time and He does not experience temporal succession.
world (Isaiah 57:15). It poses a question that: Knowing that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), what is His relationship to time? It then argues that though we cannot possibly comprehend this idea of eternity or the timelessness of God, we in our finite minds try to confine an infinite God to our time schedule. Those who foolishly demand that God operate according to their time frame
ignore the fact that He is the “High and Lofty One . . . who lives forever” (Isaiah 57:15). This description of God is far removed from man’s condition. The study asserts again that, because of our finite minds, we can only grasp the concept of God’s timeless existence in part. And in so doing, we describe Him as a God without a beginning or end, eternal, infinite, everlasting, and so on. He always was and always will be. The study holds that time is a necessary precondition for change and change is a sufficient condition to establish the passage of time. In o cannot recover the minutes that have passed by. The bottom line is this: time began when God created the universe. Since there was no matter, and because God does not change, time had no existence and therefore no meaning, no relation to Him. And this brings us to the meaning of the word eternity. God has no beginning or end. He is outside the realm of time. God is even beyond eternity. The traditional view has been that God is timeless in the sense of being outside time altogether; that is, He exists but does not exist at any point in time and He does not experience temporal succession.
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