When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him (Psalm 8:3–4, esv)?
Creation reminds us how little we are. When we stand on the shore of the ocean, we realize there are worlds underneath the waves. When we look up from the base of a mountain, we are reminded, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).
Those seemingly ageless mountains had a clear beginning, created by God who has no beginning or end. It is the infinite that reminds us we are finite. We hear the awe in the psalmist’s voice when he marvels at the expanse of the heavens, the majestic work of God’s hands, and His personal care despite our smallness.
“A true encounter with the God of the universe makes us feel gladly small.”
When God’s handiwork reminds us how little we are, we experience His transcendence. A true encounter with the God of the universe is not at all belittling. Rather, His transcendence makes us feel gladly small, perfectly puny, and happily assigned to our insignificance and place.
We need to be brought down to our proper proportion before an awesome God. To a race whose root sin is pride, transcendence offers a healthy dose of insignificance. It is a wonderful, freeing discovery.
The sum of human knowledge is fractional and miniscule; what we do know should remind us of how little we know. God not only established but also “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). There are great mysteries surrounding how He holds all things together. Some things are unknowable, and only a fraction of what is knowable has been discovered. Even the most learned people must acknowledge the vastness of what we do not understand.
What’s true of the cosmos God spoke into being is also true of the Bible, which He wrote. The Scriptures are vast and deep, and how little we know of the layers of revelation. Moses reminds us, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
The more we study God’s Word, the more the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to new and powerful truths overlooked the first, fifth, and fiftieth times we read a passage. In those moments, we experience transcendence. The humble awareness of our own limitations invites awe in the Creator who knows the end from the beginning and everything in between.
Experiencing transcendence helps you accept that there is One who exists outside the boundaries of human knowing. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways” (Romans 11:33)! You can never figure God out, but you can hear His call to bow before Him and serve Him as the true center of the universe.
Let every experience of His transcendence diminish any false sense of personal sovereignty, and lead you to resign as the chairman of the board of your own life.
Journal
Pray
Lord God, how good it is for me to consider Your vast size, knowledge, and power. It is the only way to gain the right perspective on my relative ignorance and powerlessness. As I experience Your transcendence, let it lead me to accepting my proper place under Your sovereignty. In awe I praise You, humble myself before You as Lord, and surrender my life. You are unsearchable, God, and the secret things belong to You. Thank You for letting me find my place in relation to You. In the powerful name of Your only Son, Jesus, amen.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6, esv).
The message of faith permeates not only Hebrews 11, but the entire New Testament. You’ll find faith on every page and in every story. Every step with God is a step of faith. Every lesson learned is a lesson of faith. Every victory won is a victory by faith.
The point is this: faith is not a part of the Christian life; it’s the whole thing.
Faith is unlike the fruit of the Spirit, such as patience, kindness, and gentleness; unlike spiritual gifts, such as teaching, service, and acts of mercy; unlike spiritual disciplines, such as worship, prayer, and meditation. Faith is not one part among assorted components. The Christian life is a life of faith.
Genuine followers of Christ trust God and exercise active confidence in Him. They believe His Word and act on it no matter how they feel, because He promises a good result. When we exercise our faith, we have forward spiritual momentum. When we let our faith atrophy, we lose ground and fall away from Him.
Some Christians wonder if this contradicts 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Yes, love is the greatest element relationally—and in that sense, love is greater than faith, because it influences others powerfully.
But biblical love is built on the foundation of faith. We can’t even begin to love as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, or as Jesus describes in John 13:35, until faith in Jesus Christ has bridged the gap between God and us. Because faith forms our basic relationship with God, it is the foundational element of the Christian life. Love for others flows out of that faith relationship.
Every good thing God wants to bring to our lives comes through faith.
Faith is essential… because of its centrality, the cry of the Reformation was sola fide, which means “by faith alone.” According to Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please [God].” No faith means no relationship with our Creator. With faith, we begin an eternal relationship with Him and grow closer as our faith increases.
Which begs the question—assuming you have faith in God, how do you increase it? Paul gives a clear answer. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Mystery solved! That’s what increases faith: the Bible.
If a spiritual thermometer could measure the level of your faith, what would cause it to rise? The minutes, hours, and days you’ve spent immersed in God’s Word. Conversely, shallow faith, a fear-filled heart, or coldness toward God would indicate little time in the Word.
Faith grows by hearing the Word of God. Let’s close our computers, put down the devices, and start logging more time in His Book!
Journal
Pray
Lord God, I want to please You, which begins with faith. Thank You for the first dose of life-giving faith that began my relationship with You. I pray You would grow my faith as I do my part by spending time in Your Word. In the pages of Scripture, I see You clearly and know You act faithfully on behalf of Your people. Every evidence of You grows my faith. Thank You for who You are, a constant, true, good God in whom I can place unwavering confidence. You never fail me. In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ I pray, amen.