When people think about God then they usually have two pictures in mind. First is that of some impersonal deity that set the universe in motion and is now concerned with other things and is completely apathetic about what is happening on Earth. The other view is that of the Greek and Roman gods and their immoral lifestyle, fiddling with the lives of humans just because they could, spending their time eating, drinking and having sex. Neither of these two viewpoints have any grounding in Biblical truth. But this begs the question: what does God do all day? God creates “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1 v 16 In the beginning God created everything. Many people would argue otherwise but the next best alternative they’ve come up with is: nothing + time + chance = a universe. Anyway, this work of creation was not a one off event. God is still at work creating today. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb” Psalm 139 v 13 Whenever you see a pregnant mother you see God at work creating a new member of the human race both their physical body and their personality. After all, we are all made in the image of God therefore each of us was created by God. God sustains: God did not just create the entire universe he also sustains it: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1 v 17 Put your hand on over your heart and feel it thump away, feel the blood being pumped through your veins, it is God that keeps that heart pumping. Take a breath, take a deep breath, feel the life giving oxygen flow into your lungs, it is God that keeps you breathing. Imagine the Earth as it revolves around the Sun, as it spins on its axis, as it tilts at a certain degree, God keeps the planets spinning and the Sun shining. Throw an object into the air, notice how it obeys the laws of physics, God created those laws and he makes sure they work now. God decides the weather God is in complete control over the weather. “Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.” Psalm 148 v 7 - 8 Do you remember that nice day we had on Sunday? That was God in control over the weather. And do you remember those floods a few years ago? That too was God God sees everything “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23 v 24 There is no place where you can hide from God, no deed you do that he does not see, there is nowhere in the whole of creation can you go where he won’t be there. God raises up rulers “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2 v 21 When Obama got elected that was only because God decreed that it should happen. Did Obama thank God? No. He should have though. Any ruler, be him good or bad, was set in place by God and for God's purpose. God controls rulers “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21 v 1 Everyday God is directing the authorities of this world in accordance with his divine plan. A plan that no one can stop from coming in fruition. God reveals scientific discoveries If we look at the second part of that verse in Daniel: “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2 v 21 God grants scientists knowledge, he allows scientists to think his thoughts after him. God protects his people “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.” Psalm 91 v 1 – 3 Yet another excuse to quote Psalm 91! Here we see that God is actively working to shield his people, the church, from dangers and difficulties. And I’m pretty sure that ‘swine flu’ or ‘bird flu’ or even ‘man flu’ fall under the deadly pestilence part of verse 3. And it's not just physical dangers but spiritual ones as well. God works to protect his church from the full anger of Satan and the world. God provides for his people “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6 v 31 – 33 Did you know that there is enough food on this planet to feed its entire population? God is providing for everyone. The reason that people starve is due to the fallen nature of this world and the greed of man. The promise here is wonderful – if we seek God’s kingdom first all our other needs will be provided. God works out all things for the good of those who love him “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.” Romans 8 v 28 What an encouragement this verse is in the dark times of the present. All things work out for the good of God’s church no matter how strange, how evil, how contrary they seem to us. God gives and takes away “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1 v 21 Whatever our personal circumstances God has given everything to use and he can take it away again as well. God limits evil We know from the Book of Job that God can prevent or allow Satan to do certain things to his people. And even when God allows Satan to make Job really ill then God limits Satan by preventing him from taking Job’s life. God judges the wicked “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.” Isaiah 33 v 22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” Job 21 v 22 God will judge all people in the life which is to come. But even in this present life God judges the wicked and sends punishments against them. God saves people from their sins “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11 v 9 – 10 God is continually working to bring people to Christ. God is continually revealing the truth of his word to the peoples of the Earth. Everyday God is enabling totally depraved and unable people to come to him. Everyday God pursues a personal relationship with you. God answers prayer “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5 v 14 – 15 At this very moment God is answering prayers, thousands and thousands of prayers from his people all over the world. Better still, he is answering your prayers, you might not see it yet, you might not know it now, but he is. God pours out blessings “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1 v 17 Think of all the good things on this earth! Think of all the happiness a sunny day can bring, the joys of listening to good music, the pleasures of reading a good book, the fun of participating in a sport, the simple pleasure of eating chocolate, all these things and so much more are gifts from God! Final thoughts I have only touched in part on what God does everyday and even then I did so in brief. One thing is clear: God is not idle. God is busy, working hard, everyday, to shower blessings on this earth, to protect his people, to make sure that all things work out to the good of his church, to limit evil and judge wickedness. God is not some impersonal deity or immoral idol. God is sovereign of all things, he is a creator, sustains, protector and provider. He lifts up, casts down, gives and takes away, he brings life and death, joy and sadness, everything is under his divine authority. He is a personal God who cares for every single human being, knows every single human being and he is busy working to bring glory to his own holy name. It is no wonder then when we realise the full extent of the glory of God, of his mighty power and complete transcendence above all things that so much of the Bible is devoted to God’s praise and worship. Which is why I close with Psalm 148: Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
14 Comments
TJ
14/4/2010 11:09:36 am
God does so much, and I'm sure that list could go on and on and on...
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ken
30/3/2018 09:24:32 pm
Is this what God has been doing for billions of years? Doesn't he have angels to delegate this work? Is his power so little that he cannot automate these functions and relax in heaven? What really has God been doing for all the trillions of years he has been existing?
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Emerald Jade
12/11/2022 12:42:34 pm
Creation hasn't been going on for trillions of years. God created Heaven and the angels first. Then He created the universe and earth and humans. All this took a total of several literal days. And from that time -according to Bible scholars- things have been going on for about 9,000 years from Adam and Eve to now. And yes, He has angels but they don't do these things for Him. They have various functions and roles in Heaven. God's power most certainly isn't so little because He in fact has set everything into motion to re produce itself. So He only had to initially create everything once. Yes, I imagine God is sitting on His throne in Heaven relaxing. But I'd also like to imagine He gets up and walks around and moves His hands too. After all, He's got nothing but time and it would be boring just sitting on a throne all day delegating.
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Steve Pierre
28/1/2019 11:16:46 am
Enjoying Himself
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Bob_Hubson
4/10/2019 01:44:58 pm
Since this god chap/lass/entity is said to be beyond space and time, immaterial and so on it is literally impossible for us humans to imagine. What becomes clearer and clearer as we accumulate knowledge is that the folks who wrote the Bible for example (or any other ancient holy book) knew next to nothing about the biological processes which brought us into being and sustain us during our lives.
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pat
14/4/2020 08:30:39 pm
it's just karma
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Sejourey True
12/11/2022 12:13:19 pm
Yes, this is all apart of God's plan. The number one thing non theist fail to acknowledge is that God made a perfect world in the beginning. When He allowed Satan to use the serpent to tempt Adam and Eve sin came into the world. So it is God's creation that turned away from Him and caused this dark world. God gives the right to choose as opposed to making us all robots. And He's not going to keep evil from happening as a result of mankind's poor choices, foolishesness and lack of goodness. He offered a way of redemption which is Jesus, but whether you believe or not is your choice. Angels nor humans can truly be good without God. And this life is the platform to demonstrate that. And the ones who choose Jesus will be in Heaven where there is no sin/evil because they choose God. And the ones who don't will be without Him with the devil and his angels.
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dave
1/11/2023 04:25:20 am
ugggh what a terrible response!!
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Neil Graham
11/1/2020 01:02:56 pm
Earth is a very small part of the Universe, so to think that this is what keeps God busy all day is just plain foolish. Most of the things that God is supposed to do on earth, he delegates. He set things in motion (automated) and left.
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Developer
21/6/2021 06:23:45 am
@Neil Graham,
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Violet Melody
12/11/2022 12:19:12 pm
The only thing I don't agree with you on is that God's doing other things because the universe is so vast. I believe God watches the earth all day every day. I don't believe there is life any where else except the angels in Heaven.
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Ari Stein
7/4/2020 01:50:07 pm
You are incorrect to say that President Obama didn't thank G-d. He in fact invoked G-d multiple times in his nomination acceptance speech, in his inauguration speech, and in his re-election speech.
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Bryan Ross
10/8/2020 05:55:05 pm
Isn't it funny that the God character in the Bible is the same god that has existed through all time and space?
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Savannah brook
12/11/2022 12:27:56 pm
Haha(!), well God created the universe and the earth and Heaven and everything that moves in it. And these are the things that give humans the ability to create what we create. So whether you choose to believe in a higher power or not doesn't change the reality. It's more foolish to believe everything happened by evolution than an intelligent higher being. And every religion claims theirs is the one true way, not just Christianity. So you can move on with your life already and believe what you want like everybody else. Christains nor any other religious group are stopping you.
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