God is someone, not something. He is not a set of rules or an organizational structure. He is not a membership in your church or a certificate of baptism. You don’t get to know Him by attending the right church, attending the proper Bible Study, or listening to the right Preacher. Your membership in a Christian denomination or your strict adherence to theological doctrine does not define God. God is not a possession that you control or an accomplishment you achieve. He is the creator of the universe. Understanding God starts by having an intimate relationship with Him. Christ is your only intermediary.
One of my favorite descriptions of God is “I am.”
Exodus 3:14, “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’”
God is self-defining
God is self-defining. He is beyond description. His ways are above our ways. His actions define righteousness and goodness. Although we are made in His image, we cannot fully grasp the totality of His existence.
Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.”
Exodus 15:26, “I am the Lord who heals you.”
Exodus 22:27, “I am merciful.”
Isaiah 51:12, “I am the one who comforts you.”
John 6:48, “I am the bread that gives life.”
John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.
John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”
Revelation 22:20, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
These are not the words of a what but of a who. Godliness doesn’t describe an abstract concept meant to keep us in line. It describes a heavenly body that loves us unconditionally and wants nothing more than our well-being.
God is Jealous
Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else nor share my praise with carved idols.”
God is jealous of our attention. But He does not demand it as some would believe; he wants it to be a free-will offering. God does not push Himself on us; He draws us to Himself. He demonstrates the value of taking our comfort in Him, who will never forsake us, rather than worldly endeavors that will fade with time. Eternity is God’s; this world flashes by and then disappears.
Worshiping at the altar of good works, good behavior, or personal sacrifice will not endure you to God. The only path to a meaningful relationship with God is glorifying Him in all we do.
God as our Savior
How do we change from the person always trying to please God through our adherence to rules to freely loving Him for who He is? The foundation is to be in His word constantly. But that activity is to educate; it does not replace the relationship with Him. We discuss head knowledge versus heart knowledge and the transition from one to the other. To truly have an intimate, meaningful relationship with God, you must surrender to His will. We do not aim to please God by doing good; instead, we do good because God finds pleasure in us.
When you can honestly say yes to each of these, you have a meaningful relationship with God, not just the representation of God. Things can’t provide this level of intimacy; only a living God can.
- I am
- Forgiven
- Chosen
- Significant
- Not Alone
- Complete in Christ
- Loved
These things manifest through a loving, benevolent God who spoke the universe into existence. We should not covet Him as a thing but love Him as a being.
“It is not the objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really after, and that is also, I think, the miracle that we really get.” Frederick Buechner
Don’t kind-of, sort-of, generally believe in Christ. Be all in or all out. Do yourself that big favor, commit to a position, and then live it.