God and infinity; how possibly could these have something in common?
In my AP math class we were discussing ideas of infinity, and a couple of problems that force our mind to understand infinity came up. One idea was that “There are just as many even numbers as there are numbers in your numbering system.”
For some this is a nearly impossible idea to understand. First we have to understand that infinity is not a number but an idea. In fact there is countable infinity and uncountable infinity. To illustrate how, when talking about infinity, it can change our logic, I used the following example:
Two spaceships are flying through space in the same direction (without getting into a discussion about whether or not space is infinite, we assumed it was). The first spaceship is travelling at a speed of 100 km/h while the other is travelling at a speed of 10 km/h. If these spaceships were to travel forever, which spaceship would travel the furthest distance?
At first glance, we might think the first spaceship will travel further. However, if this was true then there must be a spot in space that the first spaceship flew by that the second spaceship did not. When we think about it, though, this would never happen. Every spot in space the first space ship flies by the second will eventually get to; exactly 10 times longer.
Some minds were mystified, as I was, the first time I encountered infinity. The problem here is that infinity is a difficult idea to understand using a finite mind.
How does this relate to God?
I then informed my class that God also has infinite love for all of us. As humans, it is not secret that we will sin throughout our life. However, God will forgive us for all sins including ones in the past, present, and future, or big or small, as long as we are truly sorry for sinning. Even in the bible,
Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins, and once they are forgiven, they are all forgiven (Colossians 1:14; Acts 10:43). However, when we stumble, we are called to confess our sins - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Yes, Christians do sin (1 John 1:8) - but the Christian life is not to be identified by a life of sin. Believers are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). A Christian life should be a changed life. A person who claims to be a believer yet continually lives a life that says otherwise should question the genuineness of his faith. Christians are forgiven no matter how many times they sin, but at the same time, Christians should live a progressively more holy life as they grow closer to Christ. http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/gods-forgiveness.htm
We need to understand that, even though we may make “wrong” choices from time to time, and we are truly sorry and ask forgiveness for these sins, God will always love us and welcome us into his arms.
