God Is
Meditations on the Existence, Nature, and Character of God
by
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God Is
Against this cultural descent into unbelief, the thesis of this book is that God is real, that we do indeed comprehend a great deal about him, even while we try to repress what we know. God, however, cannot be so easily evaded. Attempting to disprove his existence is a bit like an attempt to disprove our own. It is self-defeating because it must assume the very one whom it denies. The mere act of thinking is a de facto refutation of any such denial.
Because God is personal, knowing him is more than simply knowing something about him. Still, as with any person, we must begin by understanding certain facets of his nature and character. And thus, God reveals himself to us in ways that engage our minds as well as our hearts. He is the one from whom we derive our own existence and in whom we discover our true purpose.
This is the ultimate question: Is God? My answer is the title of this book and of its first chapter—God Is. Some may be anticipating the completion of that proposition with an appropriate adjective, and that is the intent of subsequent chapters—to consider God’s divine attributes, such as his power, his righteousness, and his love. Yet whether he is and who he is are part of the same question. This is because he is existence itself, pure and perfect being. Thus did he describe himself to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” God cannot be delimited. He transcends every possible boundary, for his very nature is “to be.” To appreciate this fundamental aspect of Deity is to begin to answer the questions of why and wherefore that have plagued philosophers of every age.
We are caught up in a glorious mystery that invokes questions of origin and destiny. We think about God, either consciously or subconsciously. Our reflections compose an abiding quest, a pursuit that cannot be approached casually or superficially because it is ultimately for him who is utterly pure, immeasurably deep, and wholly satisfying. Hence, my topic is more than I could ever hope to cover within the pages of a single book or even in an infinite number of books. Genuine theism is more than a body of ideas. There is the glad assurance of intimacy with our Creator. Mere words can never fully express who he is. Then again, that is what he has given us—words, but words that he can fill.
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About the Book
In ages past, humankind looked out upon a world filled with peril and delight. It was as mysterious as it was beautiful. With other creatures they shared the terra firma, the fertile ground upon which they were collectively dependent. The skies and seas brought forth their own kind, flooding the wind and the wave. In time, all returned to the dust. Like the clouds, they came and went. But the mountains seemed solid, and the stars spoke of a primal order and permanence. Behind this wondrous abode, above and beneath, there was someone else—the one by whom all that is . . . is. It was he whom we call God. He was there before the earth was formed, and he will remain after it has turned to ashes.
Today, many insist that God is simply the mythical creation of prescientific man, the product of darkness and ignorance, of humanity’s struggle with the unknown. An increasing number of our academic and cultural elite consider the very idea of a Supreme Being to be outdated, superstitious, and even dangerous. The danger, of course, is not to the world, but to the world as they would have it. The idea is not so much the threat as the reality, because God does exist, and he is the creator and sustainer of all that is and ever will be, even of our next breath. His presence is inescapable and hence the inspiration for this book. He is! And through the visible manifestations of his divine glory, he infuses meaning and purpose into every aspect of reality. God is the heart of all truth, the wellspring of every goodness, and our supreme joy.
About the Author
It was the sudden resolution to a long and bitter period of unfulfilled expectations, a decisive moment that transformed Garland’s pursuit of happiness into a serene awareness of the true object of our happiness, the one whom we call God. Not an irrational leap of faith but compelling personal encounters drew Garland ever deeper. Yet the questions still came. What was the real nature of these experiences? Were they genuine? Were they truly of God, or is he the psychological projection of our desire—a crutch, wishful thinking? What do the scholars and sages of this world tell us? Can a puny man know if he is part of a grand design? Searching for answers, Garland began a lifelong study of the world’s philosophies, both religious and secular. What he discovered was convincing evidence for the truths of the Christian religion, for its cogent understanding of the existence, nature, and character of God, in whom our own search may find its purpose in passionate desire and solemn rest. Contact information: Email: garlandggrimes@gmail.com Website: www.GodIs.website