Question:   Dear Greg,

            How can Jesus, the Son of God, sit on the right side of Father God and be God?  How can God sit on the right side of Himself?  I am really struggling with this.

            Looking forward to your answer with anticipation!

            Thanks,

            Nelly

Answer:  Dear Nelly,

            The Bible speaks of God in human language, using human reality and mortality to describe heavenly eternity.  When the Bible says that God is “in” heaven, it does not mean that God is confined to any place, nor does it mean that heaven is a “place”.  Heaven is a state of existence that is outside time and space, but in order to think about it and talk about it humans have to speak of being “there”.  The Bible tells us that God is omnipresent—everywhere at once.  He does not need to travel to be somewhere where he is now not present—nor does he vacate a “place” to be somewhere else.

            When the Bible speaks of God having arms, hands and features of human anatomy, it is using anthropomorphic language (using human language to attribute human attributes to a non-human).  God, who inspired the Bible, is simply trying his best to reveal himself to us.  In order to do so he has to condescend to our level—for we are unable to rise to his level of understanding.  It is somewhat like an adult parent talking to a child using silly, childish language—using the sounds of an animal (“moo” for a cow) or a vehicle (“choo-choo” for a train) to describe reality beyond their comprehension.

            Thus, it is illogical to think that God cannot be one, yet three co-equal and co-essential divine Persons because he cannot sit on the right side of himself.  The term “sitting” in any “place”—geographically defined (by human limitations of time and space) boundaries, such as right or left, north or south.  These are not precise or accurate terms to use of the one true God.  He uses these terms to help us (his children whom he loves with a perfect love) understand him.  We cannot comprehend his totality because we are not created by him with the capacity to do so—but in his mercy he has, in the Person of Jesus, become one of us so that we might become one with him.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht