Jan 26 2009
Who is YOUR God?
If you have talked to many unbelievers, you may have noticed a common response. When confronted with God’s sovereignty, God’s justice, or even the requirements of God’s law, they often respond, “My God isn’t like that.” Or, “I don’t believe God would. . .”
While it shouldn’t surprise us when non-believers respond this way (after all, they do not and cannot understand God - Rom 3:10-11), it should cause us great pause when we or another believer have the same response.
When confronted with a truth in Scripture which does not ‘fit’ into your idea of God, how do you respond?
Although raised in a Christian home and saved at a young age, I’m ashamed to admit I was in my late teens before I read through the entire Bible. However, I well remember that first reading because I seemed to constantly be coming to passages which did not seem to ‘fit’ with what I thought about God. In fact, some seemed quite opposite to what I thought I knew.
This really bothered me - as it should. Thankfully, God used this to send me on a search which continues to this day - a search to understand as much as I can about the God of the Bible - not the God of someone else’s interpretation or the God of my denomination or the God of my parents. While I cannot say I have been as diligent as I ought to be, over the years God has graciously revealed more and more of Himself to my understanding when I have sought Him with earnest desire to know Him more.
“Believing the wrong thing about God is a serious matter because it is idolatry. . .[Idolatry] is thinking anything about God that isn’t true or attempting to transform Him into something He isn’t. . .think[ing] of God in our terms. . .” (John MacArther)
Psalm 50:21 puts it this way, “. . .You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you. . .”
What are your concepts of God? Where has your definition of God come from? Your own reading and study - with an open heart and a prayer for understanding? From a book or a pastor or a commentator?
Remember the Bereans? Acts 17:11 calls them “. . .more noble than those in Thessalonica. . .” Why? Because “. . .they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
This is really quite amazing. Think about it - who was their preacher? Paul. What was his topic? Most likely the Godhead of Christ - (see the passage). Were they the only audience? No. In fact, many Jews from Thessalonica came and stirred up the crowds against Paul’s teaching. (Acts 17: 1-14)
While this may sound amazing to us, I wonder, based on my own experience, how often we tend to respond in the same way? How often do we take the time and expend the energy to really check out what we are told (or read)? How diligent are we in our pursuit of God? As Christians, if this is not the focal point of lives, maybe we ought to be re-thinking our beliefs. Maybe we really are not committed to Christ???
Knowing God is the essence of Christianity (Jn 17:3, Jer 9:23-24). “Do we consider knowing God to be the greatest treasure in the world, and by far our greatest privilege? If not. . .we have sold our Christian birthright for a mess of pottage, and our true Christian experience will be superficial, inadequate, and tragically out of focus. . .” (Sinclair Ferguson)
Oh God, forgive me for my hardness of heart. That I would spurn the opportunity to know You. That You would give me not only Your word, but helpers that I might comprehend Your word. That You would graciously reveal Yourself to me. That You would enlighten my mind and heart. All this, and more, in my laziness I have spurned. Forgive me, Father. Create in me a heart which yearns to know You more. A heart committed to You - the real God which Scripture reveals.
