From the galaxies to the quark, creation shows the handiwork of God. He has a lot of tools in His toolchest, big wrenches and tiny ones. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). And at the smallest scale, “by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17): He holds it all together.
Some can be studied, some can’t
God invites the search: “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). But there is a hiddenness no telescope or microscope reaches: “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
“Where wast thou?”
When Job demanded answers, God showed him His works, from the stars to the dew: “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4). “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” (38:31). “Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?” (38:28).
God never answered Job’s “why.” He showed Himself, and it was enough: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (42:5).
The canvas and the Painter
We are like a canvas trying to understand its painter, only vastly different: the created trying to understand the Creator. “For we are his workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10). A painting can never know its painter. But this Painter stepped into His own canvas: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son… he hath declared him” (John 1:18).
Everything we know of God, we know because He revealed it: “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).
How can the Holy One stoop?
The philosopher Plato concluded that god does not mingle with man. Human reason could go no further, and Scripture agrees about the problem: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13).
Yet the High and Holy One “humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (Psalm 113:6). He dwells “in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). Paul stood in Athens, among Plato’s heirs, and declared the God they called unknown, “though he be not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:23, 27).
Worlds apart, yet united forever
The infinite and the finite. “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee” (1 Kings 8:27). Yet “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). And He means to stay: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3).
And He loves us
Is there anything as majestic and holy as our God? “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). And He loves us. That peerless, hidden book, the Song of Solomon, sings it: “love is strong as death… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song of Solomon 8:6-7). His love is past finding out too: “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19).
Romans 11:33
We cannot search Him out. But He came down to be found: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).