How Do You Picture God?

       

        Have you ever written a letter to a manufacturer to commend or complain about a product? Here’s one from a consumer to a pharmaceutical company: “Dear Sir, You do well manufacturing over-the-counter pain relievers, cold and flu medications, and allergy relief medicines. The mixtures used in your wonderful medications make it possible for people to get out of bed and fight off headaches, muscle pain, allergy symptoms and the like. I have noticed those meds work wonders Monday thru Friday and especially well on Saturdays. But people who take these same meds on Sunday don’t seem to get any relief. Their sniffling and aches and pains linger, and are unable to attend Sunday school or worship. Is it possible for you to examine your products and add an ingredient that will enhance their effectiveness to include Sunday as well?”

[Revelation 21:3-4] When you think of God, what comes to mind? A little girl was busy with her crayons marking a large piece of paper with lots of color when her mother asked her what she was drawing. She said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” During the discussion that followed her mother insisted that no-one knows what God looks like. Not deterred in the least the little girl said, “They will when I’m finished!” My understanding of God has changed through the years. When I was a boy I saw Him through the eyes of an innocent little boy. When I was in my teens I saw Him through the eyes of one who had been conditioned to behave in a way that was acceptable to God. I realized at times that I was not always behaving according to those standards and felt guilty. When I thought of Him, judgment and punishment came to mind. When I was twenty, believing I would eventually meet Him, I began to think seriously about Christianity and was baptized in the spring of 1973. Our understanding of God is important because it determines how we respond to Him. Do you remember the parable the Lord told about the talents? The one talent man hid his talent because, according to Scripture, “…I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid…” (Matthew 25:24-25). The one talent man’s response was based on fear and a wrong understanding of his Master. He saw Him as impossible to please. What about you? How do you see the Lord? Do you see him hard, demanding, and impossible to please? If so, you will never have confidence before Him. Although the Lord is not to be trifled with, He is merciful and His grace is sufficient. He, in spite of our sin, loves us. The proof of His love was the death of Jesus on the cross. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us…” (1 John 3:16). Our sin would condemn us, but through Jesus the penalty for sin has been paid (Hebrews 9:28). Therefore, how should we see the Lord, especially Christians? We are to see Him as our heavenly Father. We are to realize, because He loves us, He does not treat us as a parent would respond to a spoiled child. He expects us to live disciplined lives and to obey Him because it is in our best interest to do so. It is His desire that we know Him, and we know Him through the Bible, His written Word. We should spend our lives preparing ourselves to meet Him on the other side. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2). Remember, how you picture the Lord is how you will respond to Him. Let your understanding of Him be based on the Word of God. “God is Love” (1 John 4:7-21). No God; No Love - Know God; Know Love. Amen!