WHAT GOD IS AND WHAT GOD ISN'T

Needless to say, there are about as many concepts of who God is as there are people. It seems we all have our opinions and ideas. So, who is right? And what do we base our concepts on? Do we pick and choose from among the many options scattered over the planet? A little of this, a pinch of that.

Well...that’s the big question, isn’t it? Is God definable or is He some kind of vague mystic? Does He have a name, or can you ascribe one to Him based on your own philosophies? To know the answers to these questions haunted me until I finally reached out in a desperate cry to an unknown God and asked Him to reveal Himself to me, which He did. Beautifully. I asked these same questions yesterday to a 75-year old man sitting on a bench in Baltimore. His response? “Meh. Don’t really care.”

As for me, having asked God, over 40 years ago, to show me who He was and where I should go to find out more about Him, I have come to a few conclusions about what/who God is and what God isn’t. See if you agree.

God is not a magician. Does He have all power and knowledge? Yes, He does. Can He do anything He wants? Yes, He can. But, He is not full of tricks and sleights of hand. He is not there to do your bidding like the guy you hired for a party to entertain your friends. He wants a personal relationship with you, and He will base that relationship on His Word, the Bible.

God is not Santa Claus. Very often our prayers read like wish lists. It isn’t that God doesn’t want to give us the things we desire. He does. But, the Lord’s ultimate goal is that we grow in our faith and become more like Him. A new car, new house or new spouse will not lead us there.God knows what we need, even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). Sometimes our disappointments are a result of us asking for the wrong thing, and thinking that just because we asked and believed, it should be ours. Sorry—that’s not how it works. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:3 NKJV).

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and He responded with what we commonly call ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ Remember these words? Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That doesn’t mean He does not hear our prayers for what we need, because Jesus also said, Give us this day our daily bread. As we grow in our faith, our prayer life will become more about who God is and what He wants, and less about us and what we want.

God is not your peer. We are not equal to God. We will not rock n’ roll our way into heaven and fist bump the Almighty. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). We will fall to our knees and confess that He is Lord (Isaiah 45:23). God reached down to earth to save us, but He is still the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who sits on the Throne of Heaven and Earth.

Those are a few things that God is not. How about a few things that God is?

God is your friend, your Savior, your shield, the great Redeemer, the lover of your soul and the lifter of your head. He is the First, the Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the Creator of all and the Author and Finisher of your faith.

He has all power, all knowledge and all wisdom. Considering the mess that the world is in today, knowing the One who has all power, all knowledge and all wisdom, would seem to be the best way to go.

He is the great equalizer. All humanity is equal in the eyes of God. Race, color, gender, wealth, education, language, etc…cannot keep anyone from knowing and experiencing the love and salvation of God. He pours out His love on all mankind. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave, nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, ESV). AND, everyone is welcome to come to the Lord—no exceptions. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

GOD IS THE GOD OF THE BOOK! Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God—the Bible is the written Word of God. His Word will remain forever. Want to know how it all ends? It’s in the Bible. Want to know about heaven and hell? It’s in the Bible. Want to know what God wants from you? Or what He has for you? It’s in the Bible.

Of course, these are just a few thoughts…to speak of God and who He is has filled volumes and volumes of books. I ask you to prayerfully consider who God is and if you don’t know—then ask Him. He has a great love for you and a great desire to see you with Him in eternity.

PRAYER OF SALVATION:

Dear Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. Please come into my heart to live. Thank you for shedding your blood so that I could have forgiveness of all my sins. Please lead me to a church where I can grow in my faith and find fellowship with other believers. Thank you for your great grace and tender mercy. Amen.