A Biblical Worldview, Part 2: Metaphysics — The Nature of Reality and the God Who Is
(Building on the foundational post, “A Biblical Worldview: Seeing Life Through the Lens of Truth”)
Every worldview must answer the question, “What is real?” This is the realm of metaphysics—the study of being, existence, and the ultimate nature of reality. In a Biblical worldview, this question does not begin with the universe or with humanity, but with God Himself. Reality is not self-existent or self-explanatory. It is grounded in the eternal, unchanging, personal God who is.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1 (NASB)
These simple opening words of Scripture declare more than the start of a story—they reveal the foundation of all that is. Everything that exists owes its being to the God who has always been.
The God Who Is
Before there was time, matter, or space, there was God. When Moses asked for God’s name, the Lord replied,
“I AM WHO I AM.”
— Exodus 3:14 (NASB)
God alone is self-existent. He depends on nothing and no one. He is not merely part of reality—He is the source of all reality. Every other being, from galaxies to grains of sand, from angels to atoms, exists only because He sustains it.
The apostle Paul affirmed this truth in his sermon at the Areopagus:
“For in Him we live and move and exist.”
— Acts 17:28 (NASB)
Reality, therefore, is not impersonal or random. It is personal, purposeful, and relational because it flows from the very nature of God. He is the ultimate reality—unchanging, eternal, and perfectly good.
Reality Reflects Its Creator
Because God is the Creator, all of creation bears the imprint of His character. The world is not an illusion or an accident; it is an ordered, intelligible expression of divine wisdom.
“The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”
— Psalm 19:1 (NASB)
We live in a world where physical and spiritual realities coexist. What we can see and measure is real—but it is not all there is. Scripture constantly reminds us that invisible realities are just as true as visible ones:
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible… all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
— Colossians 1:16 (NASB)
To deny the spiritual dimension of reality is to miss half the story. The unseen world of angels, souls, and God’s own presence gives ultimate meaning to the seen world. The physical is not inferior—it is simply the stage on which God’s eternal purposes unfold.
The Distortions of a Godless Metaphysic
Modern culture often presents two distorted pictures of reality.
1. Materialism says that only the physical world exists—what we can touch, test, and measure. In this view, life is nothing more than the product of blind chance, and meaning is an illusion.
2. Pantheism swings to the opposite extreme, claiming that everything is divine—that God and the universe are one and the same. This view blurs the Creator-creation distinction, leaving no room for a personal, holy God or for moral accountability.
The Biblical worldview rejects both distortions. God is distinct from His creation, yet intimately involved with it. He is transcendent (above and beyond all things) and immanent (present and active within all things).
“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
— Jeremiah 23:24 (NASB)
Christ at the Center of Reality
In Jesus Christ, the eternal God entered His own creation. The One who holds all things together took on flesh and dwelt among us.
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
— Colossians 1:17 (NASB)
This means that all of reality ultimately centers on Him. The laws of nature, the flow of history, and the destiny of every soul all converge in Christ. He is both the Creator and the Redeemer, the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13).
A Biblical metaphysic, then, is not abstract philosophy—it is Christology. To understand what is real, we look to Jesus, in whom “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).
Living in Light of Reality
Because reality is grounded in God, our daily lives take on deep significance. Every moment, every decision, and every relationship matters. We are not wandering through a meaningless universe; we are living within a story authored by God Himself.
This truth shapes how we respond to both joy and suffering. When life feels chaotic, we remember that the Creator who spoke galaxies into existence also holds our hearts in His hands. He is not distant. He is near, sustaining and guiding all things toward His ultimate purpose.
“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.”
— Psalm 103:19 (NASB)
Reality is not determined by our emotions or our circumstances but by the eternal character of God. What He has declared to be true remains true, no matter how the world changes.
The Call to Worship and Wonder
Understanding metaphysics from a Biblical perspective should lead us not to pride, but to praise. The more deeply we grasp the reality of God’s being, the more we are moved to awe and worship.
Paul expressed this beautifully:
“Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
— Romans 11:33 (NASB)
The reality that undergirds the universe is not cold or mechanical—it is love. The same God who hung the stars also numbers our hairs and knows our thoughts. His reality is relational, inviting us to live in communion with Him.
Conclusion: Anchored in the God Who Is
Metaphysics asks, “What is real?” The Biblical answer is profoundly simple: God is real, and everything else derives its reality from Him.
To live with this awareness is to see the world as sacred, purposeful, and filled with divine presence. It is to walk through each day with reverence, knowing that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).
When we align our understanding of reality with the God who is, our fears fade, our worship deepens, and our purpose becomes clear.
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
— Romans 11:36 (NASB)