What Is God Like?
The amount of misconceptions and flat out lies about God is astounding. What is the truth about His character?
The Great Controversy 1 of 2
Does God have a beginning or end?
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
It may be hard for our finite minds to comprehend—especially since none of us are exempt from death—but God is infinite; He always has been and always will be.
Does God know all things?
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
God is omniscient in the fullest sense of the word.
Does God know my thoughts?
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest [comprehend] my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
As our Creator, God knows us better than we know ourselves. Just as there is no sin in our lives that God does not see, so there is no sorrow that He does not notice. He is acquainted with it all—every wound, disappointment, injustice, and abuse. Yet He is not merely aware; He longs to heal our wounds (Isaiah 53:5; Jeremiah 30:17; 33:6), restore what was lost (Isaiah 43:18-19; 51:3; Joel 2:25), comfort our sorrows (Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 57:18), make right every wrong (Romans 12:19), forgive every confessed sin (Psalm 103:2-4; 1 John 1:9), cleanse every defilement (Ezekiel 36:25), and set us free from every addiction (Luke 4:18). He who created the heavens and the earth by the power of His Word (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6) has the same power to recreate us by that same Word (1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17), the Bible, but only if we let Him (Revelation 3:20).
Is He the source of all true human wisdom?
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
After Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, humanity became exposed to the knowledge of evil—with all its pain, misery, and suffering—which was never God’s design. Yet even all genuinely good human wisdom is not inherently ours, but His—a profound truth that removes any temptation to glory in ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:17; Galatians 6:14).
Does God know the future?
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Not only does God know the future, but He also reveals it beforehand—to strengthen our faith in Him and to prepare us for what is to come. The Bible is full of prophecy for this very reason.
What comfort does God’s foreknowledge bring?
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Because God is never caught off guard by any development, Satan’s rebellion in heaven was doomed from the start (Ezekiel 28:17-19), for God foresaw it and was prepared for it. He was likewise prepared for humanity’s fall, for Peter writes that Christ “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:18-20), meaning that before Adam and Eve sinned, Christ had already offered Himself as their surety. This is exceedingly good news, because no matter how unconquerable evil, sin, and death may now appear, God’s love, righteousness, and life will ultimately triumph (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
Does God predestine who is saved?
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
God’s foreknowledge does not negate anyone’s freedom of choice. He respects free will, even when He knows it will cost Him everything; after all, He knew Satan would rebel against Him, yet He still created him. Why? Because God is love, and a foundational element of love is freedom of choice—freedom that always carries the risk that the one being loved may choose not to reciprocate.
Love is often expressed most vividly under trying circumstances. If God had created only angels whom He knew would remain loyal to Him, He would have limited Himself to a love that lacked depth—one that had never been “tried in the fire.” And a shallow expression of love can awaken only the same love in return. But God desires to reveal a love that “passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). Satan’s fall provided God an opportunity to display a love—by offering His Son for the sins of a rebellious world—that would never have been possible otherwise. This love, in turn, awakens a far greater love and devotion, not only from the redeemed human race but also from the angels who remained loyal to Him.
God’s respect for freedom of choice dismantles the idea of predestination—of God predetermining who will be saved or lost.[1] Imagine a pilot flying over a long, dark, one-way tunnel as two cars enter from opposite ends—both without headlights. The pilot knows disaster will soon follow, but his foreknowledge in no way impedes or imposes itself upon the drivers’ choice to enter that tunnel. Predestination is a dangerous teaching because it can lead people to live as though their decisions and actions do not matter, believing their destiny has already been determined. Scripture, however, teaches the exact opposite: our words and actions do matter, for we will be held accountable for them (Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:12; Revelation 22:12).
How many gods are there?
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
There are countless gods across the world’s religions, but the Bible declares that there is only one true God,[2] and that one fallen angel—Satan—competes with Him for the worship of humanity. Though Satan aspires to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-14), he is—and will always remain—a created being (Ezekiel 28:15). Since Satan especially covets the worship that belongs to God alone (though not His character, interestingly enough), it is unsurprising that, just before the second coming of Christ, the great test that will divide all humanity into two groups will revolve around worship.
God’s exclusive claim to divinity completely extinguishes the idea that mankind possesses inherent divinity or could attain it through practices such as yoga, mantra recitation, energy healing, or various Eastern meditation techniques. We are—and always will be—created beings. God does promise to bestow His character upon His followers (and what an honor that is), but we will never be divine—not even in heaven. The redeemed will live forever in heaven, not because they are immortal, but because God, who alone is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15-16), sustains their life.
How did God create the universe?
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
All God has to do is speak and atoms are immediately created in obedience to His word! And after its been created, all of nature is just as eager to obey her Maker.
Do the heavens have anything to say about Him?
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
What is God like?
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
What does the psalmist say belongs to God?
The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Everything and everyone created belongs to the Creator first and foremost.
How does He feel about me?
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Am I ever alone?
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.
The fact that the Creator and King of the universe cares about you personally is astounding and may be hard to believe because we live in a world where love does not reign supreme like it does in heaven, but it is absolutely true!
How faithful is God?
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
It’s said that the bond between mother and child is the strongest human bond there is, but God’s love for you is actually even stronger. It knows no bounds.
What is the psalmist’s response to Him?
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Will His name ever cease to be blessed?
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his.
Jacobus Arminius was a 16th-century Dutch Reformer who rediscovered the biblical teaching of free will, now known as Arminianism. He rejected both the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and the idea that all will ultimately be saved (Universalism). ↩︎
God’s declaration that He is the only true God may seem politically incorrect in an ecumenical world trending toward unity among religions. After all, what gives Him the right to make such a bold and exclusive claim? The answer is simple: Jesus is the only God who died for His creation. What other god set aside his divine nature, took on the nature of his created beings, and died at their hands and for their sins? There is only One. ↩︎