John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
God is both divine and covenantal. Another word for that is he is, he's transcendent. He's exalted in glory, royal, divine, all authority is his; and by virtue of this creative control and authority he is very present to his creation, especially to his people made in his image. And so I sometimes wonder why God seems to live mostly in an unlimited eternal metaphysical transcendent environment while his image-bearers live in a physical reality governed by time and mortality.
As I begin to think on this, the first thought I get is that our mortality by design is not meant to last. God doesn't intend that this world, this time, this experience, should persist. God has designed this whole thing for the explicit purpose of our transcending into his own Divine immanence. Not literally transcending into another version of him and his Divine immanence...no I'm not suggesting we can all become gods. I'm saying I think we're transcending this physical reality into his metaphysical reality by virtue of HIS Divine immanence. We can't ascend into that realm without his Divine immanence.
Here's something to ask yourself when you're getting a little too self-important. Why is there anything?
What was being before there was being. How can that even be? Can nothing explode into something. What exploded? Never mind how, WHAT? In order for there to be something there must be something. Being cannot come into being if it wasn't born out of something being something somewhere in some time. For that matter TIME cannot spring into being without time existing somewhere somehow. Something must have being or we cannot be.
Therefore God must be. As he says, "I Am."
Have you ever heard about the word teleology? No? Well you should think about getting to know more about it. It has some to do with understanding how and why something works, but also defining something by virtue of its intended inherent purpose. Discovering explanations and intended designs is important for people of faith, it helps us to discern God's will. God is the potter and we are the clay. Understanding what God is molding is important. When he puts that pottery in the kiln and turns up the heat it's important to understand why. And when we're cracked because OUR plans didn't work out, it's important to understand how the master potter can restore and resolve our cracks.
Teleology derives its name from the Ancient Greek word telos, which means end or purpose, and -ology, the study of. It's about seeing and understanding the transcendent purpose. I'm a tree geek by profession, so for me a great example is an acorn. I see an acorn and I know that God has packaged (purposed) everything necessary within that tiny nutshell for a great and mighty oak tree to become realized...in time. In time yes, but it's already there even in the acorn state. Its purpose is as great and mighty already as the tree it will someday become. Everything necessary for its ultimate reality is already there. It's built in. And for the Christian, knowing this about ourselves is vital to becoming the more that God created us for, the transcendence (spirit) that is built into us.
There is a reason and purpose for life to exist, and our Creator is involved with his creation, he's covenantal. Life is not the result of random chance. Life is not meaningless, it's life, everything about all of its properties and systems proves that design. Even from a naturalistic perspective, nature abhors a vacuum, so all people will end up devoting their life to something. Even those who deny God is, devote themselves to something. Secular teleology values individualism above a collective end for all of humanity. And do the atheist is alone and ultimately prefers it that way. In the other hand God built a desire to transcend into our spirit, everyone's spirit. Even the atheist has a spirit that longs for the unknown, but their lack of faith results in a very self-focused view of life’s purpose rather than one that can help us all have life and have it abundantly. Because life has no inherent meaning for them they become nihilists. Might makes right becomes their god. Survival of the fittest.
It's vital and necessary as transcendent beings currently living in an acorn-like state, that we discover our ultimate concern so that we can become. Unlike many today who talk about “the universe” working things out...the Christian person of faith is becoming because the Creator of the universe has determined that they should. And he sent his Son to lead them in the way, His way.
Teleology in scripture:
Colossians 1:16
"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."
I'm Him, (following Jesus' way, obeying his commands, repenting of sin and professing his name), we point our lives’ towards his purpose. God says we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works. In this way we discover meaning in this world. Teleology helps us understand that not only are we to be about doing those good works, we need to understand that God put those good works before us. That's predetermined, acorn-like works waiting on us to grow into it.
Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
And Jesus sends his Spirit to grow that in us, like a grow light in a greenhouse he nurtures that sanctifying growth in us. Sparks it into being so that we'll become what God intended for us from the beginning.
Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
And all this acorn-like growth going on through the works of God's transcendent Spirit is ultimately intended to advance the gospel truth.
So what am I saying?
I'm saying, if our lives are not being lived to advance the gospel then we're not living transcendent lives. The apostle Paul saw his imprisonment for the sake of the gospel as a blessing. He saw life as ultimately about every knee will bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord. Everything else was as little value to him. He had transcended the mere consumerism and meaninglessness of the secular world, and found contentment and confidence in Christ's purpose. Paul’s telos makes him okay with the pouring out of his own life for the sake of Jesus' gospel. So much so that he REJOICED in it, and died for it. Why would he do that? Because he was transformed by the transcendent.
Having awareness is a powerful testimony to the world. Our existential peace comes through that awareness. And we can rest in that purpose, even as the world burns in chaos, because we know God has his design working things out.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
When the negativity of the chaos comes up against us we know that we serve a better purpose. And that gives meaning to the meaningless. It transcends the negative dark energy of time and opens the door into the eternal creative becoming light. And in that light we can know that our purpose is to know and glorify God, enjoying Him forever. And we know this because we live now in this acorn-like state. Encapsulated in a chaotic darkness of uncertainty about the future. Teleology allows us to understand that it won't always be that way. There's a crack in the shell and light is getting inside of our soul. Our anxiety is blinded by that light, and our spirit is energized by it. It's the hope of heaven that nurtures us while we're putting out our roots into His garden.
God gives us that teleology:
"Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both."
(Proverbs 20:12 NIV)
And all his creation reveals it to us.
Take a closer look 👀