THE HAZARDS OF BELIEVING GOD IS JUST LIKE US - The Warrior's Journey®
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THE HAZARDS OF BELIEVING GOD IS JUST LIKE US

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All of us have watched bombastic news commentators on TV or listened to them on radio. They sound as if they are ready to blow a fuse from anger over events on the global stage. Sadly, we see preachers doing the very same thing. Disturbed over the sin and perversion that abound in society, they erupt in angry outbursts and prophesy that God has “just about had enough” of this sinful world. He’s now ready to obliterate it.

A Mirror of Gods Preferences

Sadly, these themes in our religious culture are nothing new. I have heard these messages all my life, and in fact, preached them myself. Yet Christ keeps saving sinners and building His church. Though outwardly it looks like sin is increasing, behind the scenes God’s Spirit is moving in the hearts of people. He’s creating in them a hunger and thirst for righteousness and drawing them to Jesus. It’s all made me wonder, “Is God really about to lose His temper and explode in a rage?”

You know, as much as I’d like to believe that my theology is entirely biblically based, it’s not. I have to admit that it’s also experience-based and personality-based. By “personality-based” I mean that I tend to think that God’s preferences mirror my own. In other words, if I don’t like something or somebody, neither does God.

Such a worldview is very problematic. Even under the very best conditions – if I am mentally and emotionally healthy – I’m still cursed with a fallen nature. I’ll have a natural inclination toward evil. In addition to this, there are a mass of wounds and negative experiences in my memory that seriously darken my thoughts and feelings. But “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Plus, there’s my own human limitations. My love, patience, and strength have significant limitations. God’s attributes, however, are inexhaustible and unchangeable. If I believe that God is as frustrated and angry as I am, then I’ll tend to believe that’s He’s always on the verge of destroying the planet – or me. Fortunately, however, God is not like me and I mustn’t transfer my own feelings of frustration and anger onto Him.

Reflections of God

Now, it’s not entirely true when I say that God is not like me. For each of us reflect some facet of our heavenly Father – considering He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). But none of us reflects the totality of God. If I have a deep appreciation of music and the arts, I can rest assured that God does also, for He is their Creator. If I prefer the world of numbers, equations, and formulas, then I can also rest assured that God does as well. The laws and the orderliness of the universe are also of His making. Therefore, I reflect something – a tiny sliver perhaps – of what God is like.

But no one but Jesus (Colossians 1:15; 2:9) has such a perfect and complete personality that they reflect everything there is of God. Only when we combine the entire human race – of all time – can humanity begin to represent God. Even as Paul said, it takes the whole church of all time to be “the fullness of Christ who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:20).

Therefore, I must always acknowledge that whatever love, patience, and mercy I have in my heart, they ultimately came from God. The love that a mother has for her infant and child most certainly reflect God’s love for us. However, His are infinite and untainted by selfishness (Isaiah 49:15). God’s love is infinitely greater and purer than ours. So, I should never conclude that God is “fed up” with the world as I find myself on occasion. When God judges the world, it will not be because He’s lost patience, but because His righteousness demands it.

Bend To Jesus Heart

Are you distressed about the sins and immorality of this world? Then pray for God to pour out His Spirit upon all of humanity, as He promised to do (Joel 2:28-29). God chooses to use our prayers to execute His purposes. Why else would Jesus tell us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?

God sends prevailing winds that blow and bend trees in a certain direction. Pray for God to make His Spirit the prevailing force in America, continually bending our hearts to Jesus.

At the beginning of every spring all the forests across the northern hemisphere are dead and dormant. But, within a few weeks they all exploded with leaves and all the signs of life. Can God not do the same in the hearts of those for whom Christ died? So stop stewing over the sin of this world and start praying. Pray for God to breathe a mighty revival across our land.

 

PRAYER

Almighty and merciful Father, we call upon You now through Your holy Son Jesus Christ. We pray, dear Father, that You will pour out Your Spirit upon us. We pray that You will make our hearts receptive and responsive to Your word. We pray that You will raise up men and women of God to be laborers for the Gospel harvest, to proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers and lead them to faith in Jesus Christ. Oh God, please breathe a revival across our land. By Your Spirit divine turn our hearts to You in faith and repentance, and to each other in love and reconciliation. Please, dear God, save us from ourselves and our own wretched way. Revive us and save our souls, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.


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