Can God Be Eternally Infinite if Everything Eventually Dies Out?

As human beings, we possess certain limitations that prevent us from comprehending some fundamental and abstract concepts. The nature of God, for instance, poses significant challenges to our understanding. One such challenge is how God, who is often described as eternal and infinite, can exist outside the finite nature of everything else. This article explores this concept and its implications.

Understanding Our Limitations

Humans have innate limitations when it comes to grasping abstract ideas, especially those that transcend our temporal existence. For example, the very notion of God being eternal and infinite confounds our understanding, as the idea of everything eventually coming to an end seems incompatible with the state of infinity. This brings us to questions like, 'How can God be eternal and infinite if everything else will eventually die out?'

The Concept of Eternity

The concept of eternity is often misinterpreted as simply an endless amount of time. However, this is not a thorough understanding of eternity. Eternity, as a state, is beyond the limitations of time. Time is a characteristic of temporality; it is an aspect of our linear existence. In contrast, eternity is a condition of existence that encompasses all time, all possibilities, all truth, and all universes.

Trinity and the Multiverse

In theology, the concept of the Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—further complicates our understanding of God's nature. The idea of three persons in one God defies our human logic and indicates the complexity of the divine. Additionally, the contemporary scientific understanding of the multiverse—a multitude of different universes, each with its own history and development—brings a new perspective to the concept of existence and eternity.

Linear vs. Non-Linear Existence

Our existence is bound by a linear temporal framework, characterized by the temporal universe we inhabit. In this context, any temporal entity, including ourselves, has a beginning and an end. This linear perspective, however, fails to grasp the essence of eternity. Just as an infinite plane in geometry is an abstract concept that cannot be physically realized, the concept of eternity is a limitation of our understanding.

Divine Likeness and Free Will

Despite our limitations, the Bible presents us with the concept of man's image being made in the likeness of God, which includes the possession of free will. Our ability to make choices and direct our paths, however limited they may be compared to God's, is a reflection of this divine likeness. Through faith in Jesus, we are assured of eternal salvation, transcending the temporary nature of our existence.

Conclusion

Understanding the concept of God as eternal and infinite, in the face of the finite nature of everything else, requires us to rethink our understanding of existence, time, and the divine. The complexity of the concept, as illustrated by the Trinity and the idea of a multiverse, underscores the limitations of human comprehension. However, it also highlights the necessary humility and faith required to accept that there are aspects of God's nature that surpass our understanding.