I have enjoyed spending time pondering over the Transcendent and Immanent nature of the One True God, the God of Christianity. (although I was “forced” to ponder these things as it was a requirement for Seminary class) These 2 ideas of God seem to be on opposite poles of one another, and indeed many theological errors have been made by focusing on 1 extreme or the other. Transcendece has to do with God’s existence and being outside of creation. He is not defined by our physical world and is over, beyond, and above it in every sense of his being. He is on an entirely different wavelength of men. Yet God is also Immanent. He works in, through, and within His creation. He has chosen to reveal Himself through natural and special revelation. He has total control over history. He has placed His image in mankind.
Pondering over these things will leave a person in awe over His attributes, that pertain both to His Greatness and His Goodness.
We, like Lucy, in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia will see God as being bigger as we age. This should be natural for the Christian. How big will he be when we see him in all of his glory and see him in our final state of age, having a glorified body? I enjoyed John’s thoughts (taken from http://cogitavi.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/aslan-youre-bigger/ ):
I am currently reading through C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia; I just finished the fourth book in the seven book series, Prince Caspian. As I have been reading through them, some of my favorite parts are when the various characters are talking to Aslan. In Prince Caspian, there is a scene depicting Lucy’s first encounter with Aslan in this story, it goes like this,
“Aslan, Aslan. Dear Aslan. At last.”
…She gazed up into the large wise face. “Welcome child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
As Lewis I am sure intended, we see a great truth brought out in this simple scene as Lucy meets Aslan for the first time. As Lucy returns to the world she loves so much, and comes into the presence of the one she loves so much, we see the first thing she says to Aslan is, “You’re bigger.” Aslan then explains that it is because Lucy has grown that he seems bigger. He is no bigger, she is. “But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” How true is that of Christians. Every year we grow, we find Christ and the cross bigger, we find God bigger. However, they have not changed, but our understanding of them has, understanding of our sinfulness has changed. Therefore we see more of them. I pray that you can come to the end of this month, the end of this year and see God as bigger, just as Lucy saw Aslan. We must remember that this does not happen by accident. Lucy was looking for Aslan, that is why she saw him first and the others could not see him. We must be looking for God, “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
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