Category: God’s Word

Who Made God

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Thank you for your question Tom. It is a question that is asked by believers and skeptics alike.

Who made God?

As we consider this question, we have to recognize that we are not able to fully understand God. This fact does not preclude our asking and answering the question; it simply keeps the answers we find in perspective. They may not be total answers. However, with a little logic and a little faith mixed in, we can find an answer.

First, let’s look at some of the logic of the question. If we assume that God had a beginning and that He created everything, then who created God? If you answer who created God, then the next logical question is who created that God and who created the next God, up the ladder? See where this is going? It is moving us into a never ending loop that leads nowhere.

Next, consider that something can come from nothing. A recent theory is that “nothing” actually has something in it. This theory states the something inside nothing creates something (Stephen Hawking). Now the question becomes who created the nothing that creates something? So what created us and everything around us? Whatever this nothing is must have had a beginning. Science once again runs into a brick wall because, you need a beginning of the mathematically supposed nothing to have something come from it. It seems science always comes up to a wall that they cannot get through, when trying to explain who or what was the creator? Clearly something had to create everything, and we believe the creator is God and He is eternal so He needs no creator.

Consider where God is or is not. To be the creator of what we see, God has to be outside of our reality.   The potter cannot be part of the pot. So if God created everything, He created time and space as well as the physical world.

Let’s look at what the Bible says about who God is.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Shows God was before anything else was.)

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” This passage shows God was before time was.

Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “the eternal God is your refuge….”. God is eternal. (Webster’s definition of eternal: Having neither beginning nor end; infinite in duration)

In the Bible passages above God claims he is eternal. He has no beginning and no end.

In the story of Moses and the burning bush, we find God making a declaration of who He is which gives us the answer to the question of who created God. In Exodus 3:13-14 Moses is asking God what name He should use for God when he is asked who sent him and God’s reply is “I am who I am”. Thus you will say “I am” sent me to you”. God says He is “I Am”, no more no less. He just is. No restrictions in time or place. No thought of limiting Himself in any way. He just is. “I am”, two small words that give God an eternal expanse. A simple answer that says volumes and puts God beyond our time and space. He is saying he is eternal in these two words.

The answer to your question is that no one made God. He is, was, and always will be.

Temptation

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Taylor,

Thank you for placing your question in the box. It is relevant to us all.

Your question is: How do I withstand the temptations and draw closer to God?

Every person on earth including Christians struggles with temptation. In the Bible we are told the following things about temptation:

James 1:14-1514 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

In 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

The scriptures above tell us we are drawn away by our desires and God will strengthen us against temptations.   They also tell us that temptations are bearable and we have a way out. The question is how are we to use these tools God has given us to effectively keep temptation from becoming sin.

God has not left us to guess how to react to temptation. He has given us the following scriptures to guide us in resisting:

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

As you can see God has given us all the direction we need to deal with temptation but we need some practical applications to help us as we live in this world. The following steps will help you to put Gods plan in action:

Spend time in the Bible: The more you set scripture to memory the better prepared you are to fight the devil. Jesus showed us in Matthew 4:1-11 how to use scripture to fight the devil. Each response Christ gives to the devil is from the Old Testament. Use scripture when you are being tempted.

Matthew 4:1-11 – 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Accountability: Find a Christian who you can trust to keep your confidence and give them permission to keep you accountable for whatever temptation is recurring. They need to ask you the hard questions about your temptations and you must feel safe enough to answer truthfully. They should pray for you in your struggle. An accountability partner is critical in staying true to your effort to defeat your temptations. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Flee from sin: You cannot allow yourself to entertain the temptation on any level at any time. You have to remove yourself from the temptation.

Sometimes the fleeing is physical. An alcoholic should stay away from any place drinking is going on. It does not matter if it is a bar, a party or a friend house. He or she must flee.

If you have a hard time controlling yourself sexually when alone with your boyfriend you must not let yourself be alone and isolated. If you are living with someone you are not married to you must move out.

Sometimes your must remove something from your life or set up protections to keep the temptation from being reality. A case in point is pornography. If you have a problem with something, remove the source. Your computer may be a problem so you must remove it or put up safe guards to keep you from making your temptation a reality.

You may have a problem with gossip or foul language. Let others know you what to change and give them permission to point out your lapses.

Pray: You must keep your desire to defeat this temptation in your prayers. Ask God for His strength, protection and the tenacity to persevere until victory is yours.

I do not know what your temptations are but as we have noted God is there to help you but you must take steps to show God you really want to rid yourself of the life style the temptation thrives in. Once you have taken steps to flee kneel down and ask for God’s protection. Ask Him for His strength. What we cannot do for ourselves God can accomplish for us.

I don’t want to give you the impression it is easy to defeat temptation. It is not. You will have set backs and the temptation will get the better of you. When this happens analyze what happened and take action to plug the gap that allowed you to fall. After you plug the gap thank God for His forgiveness and begin again. God will honor your struggle and will be with you in the fight.

One last thing I want you to remember: James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Taylor, I hope this helps you to fight the good fight and become victorious in Jesus Christ.

Can My Dad Visit From Heaven

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Question: Can my dad visit me from heaven? (He died) Signed: Helen

Helen,

I am very sorry your Dad died. My Dad died and went to Heaven to and like you I wish he could visit me. I miss him like you miss your Dad. I know it hurts very much when your Dad goes to heaven. Missing your Dad will never go away but the hurting will get better as you grow up.

You asked if your Dad could visit you from Heaven. I’m sorry to tell you he can’t be with you the way he used to be with you. That doesn’t mean he can’t be with you in a different way. Your Dad is a part of you. He is in your heart always. When you miss him think of all the fun times you and your Dad had together and understand that one day, many years from now, when God takes you to heaven your Dad will be there to hug you. Until that time comes keep remembering your Dad and what he taught you. Make him proud of you by growing up to be a person who loves Jesus and listens to His teaching. He will teach you what your Dad has not had a chance to teach you. Listen to Him and make your Dad proud of you.

Before I end this letter I want to tell you something very important. You have another Father in Heaven who loves you. It’s God. He is taking care of your Dad and wants you to know He loves your Dad as much as He loves you and He will take care of your Dad for you. You can talk to your Father in Heaven and pray for His help when you are lonely or don’t know what to do. He will always be there to talk to when you need Him.

I pray God will bless you and that you will make both your Father in Heaven and your Dad proud of you.