If you want to see a strange, scary collection of statues just tour a museum and see how people have imagined their gods over the centuries. Weird.
But, as scary as some of those things are, you know what scares me as much? It’s some of the ideas that we have about God, the One True God. A false idea of God distorts our way of thinking about Him. One of the most famous books in the world tells about a man who loved God, but who honestly didn’t understand Him very deeply.
Job thought he had a case against God. “You’re not fair!” he seemed to be saying when the sky was falling on his head. He knew a lot about God and he and his friends filled up nearly a whole book of the Bible, saying things about God.
Most of what they said was true.
But, then one day, God revealed himself to Job and the man of God hit the dirt and squealed, “…”I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” (Job 42:1-5, MSG)
Job opened the door to a powerful, deep relationship with God when he began to understand how God really is and not just how others say He is. We’ve often constructed a false image of Him in our minds and hearts.
Pastor Bryan Jarrett said, “Your image, concept, perception of God affects everything in your life. You take on the characteristics of what you worship (psalm 115:8). If your image of God is distorted you’ll pray small prayers, accept mediocrity, give little, go little, and do little. When you see His majesty, size and splendor it all changes!”
So, how can I see Him? For sure through His Word. You see Him most clearly in His Son Jesus. His Spirit reveals Him to our heart. We see Him when we take what we go through in life and let Him reveal Himself through our battles.
We see Him in our brothers and sisters. In fact, for the man who is looking for God, He sees Him everywhere.
Indian missionary Sam Maloney says, “The size of my prayer depends on the size of my God…
How BIG is your God?
What are some of the distorted ideas that you’ve had of God in the past and how did he help you overcome them?