The Almighty God

Dan S. Shipley wrote this. It appeared in the April 1973 edition of Plain Talk, a monthly publication of the Oaks-West Church of Christ in Burnet, Texas.

The omnipotence that belongs to God is difficult for the finite mind to grasp. It is unlike any power of mortals. Whatever man wills is not realized except by means. With God, means are unnecessary. He wills it and it is done. He says, "Let there be light" and there is light. Such is the incredible power that makes time stand still; that calms the stormy wind and waves with but a word and that causes even the dead to render ready response to its command. Truly, "great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend." (Job 37:5) No wonder then the reference to Himself as "the Almighty god" (Genesis 17:1); the One with whom, "all things are possible" as Jesus puts it. (Matthew 19:26)

Infinite power is complimented and directed by infinite wisdom, love and righteousness. Accordingly, such power is never used recklessly or wrongfully. Every manifestation of Divine power is exactly as purposed by Divine wisdom; nothing is incidental or accidental. What God produced with His creative power was precisely what He willed ("And God saw everything that He made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31). Spiritually, man was made in a pure and perfect state. Physically, "God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased Him." (I Corinthians 12:18) Note: By Divine creative power, God "set" (from Greek tithemi, "to put, to place) the various members in the human body. They didn't get there by a process of evolution! God is the first and efficient cause. Creation demands a creator, life a life-giver, law a law giver and design a designer. Almighty God is all of these and more.

Not only does God have the power to know all things at all times and the power to make something from nothing, He also has the unique power of presence; the ability to be in all places at once. As Paul says, "He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). His abiding presence is pictured by the Psalmist (139:3-12) and is implied by the writer of Hebrews in recalling His promise. "I will in wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee." (13:5) Remembering that He is a witness to every thought, word and deed of every man ought to encourage a better conduct. In prayer we sometimes speak of "coming into His presence" but really, we never leave it. (Do we fear or appreciate His presence; or both?)

Since God's power is immutable (unchanging, "eternal", Romans 1:20) it is never diminished nor abated in any way when when exercised through men. The power employed by the apostles was from "on high", which they readily acknowledged (Acts 3:12; 15:12). How unusual then, that modern day "faith healers" who claim the same power from the same source should have different results! Divine power never fails. It is instantaneous and complete, independent of the subject's faith. Many still err, "not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29).

To believe in God is to believe in His great power, in His authority and sovereignty. He alone has the power to save and destroy (James 1:12; Matthew 10:28) and to provide all things that pertain to life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). He IS almighty!