By Chris WittsSunday 9 Oct 2022Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
The big question many people ask is, What is God like? Can he be known by us, and what is he like? I think it’s a question we have all asked, and perhaps if you went to Sunday School, it may have been answered by your teachers. But not everyone has had that kind of teaching. I have heard some people talk of God as ‘the old man upstairs’.
I’m reminded of the story of a group of pre-school children who were touring a retirement home. When the tour was over, the resident who had been their guide asked the kids if they had any questions. One little girl raised her hand and asked, How old are you? The resident replied—very proudly—I’m 98! Clearly impressed, the child’s eyes grew wide with wonder and she said, Did you start at one?
Well, many people view God like this—they think if he does exist he must be extremely old, which would make him weak—and helpless. They think he is way past his prime. His creating days are over—his dividing the Red Sea days are past him. He can no longer deliver people from the mouths of lions or fiery furnaces. In their minds if God does exist—and if he started counting birthdays at one—well he must just be a feeble old man of sorts living somewhere up there in the heavenly realms.
Then there are others who think like this: God is the great judge in the sky. I think a lot of people have this view. They think he sits on his judgement seat and does nothing but pronounce sentence on guilty sinners. In their minds, nailing us for our wrong-doings is what God likes to do all day. They think of him as a heavenly version of Judge Judy—an ancient but powerful being who loves nothing more than to punish us for our sins.
And of course there are many today who believe there is no God at all. They think the world just happened somehow and that all this talk about God is nonsense. They have decided that God does not exist and never has.
God Is Real
I like the somewhat silly and untrue story of an atheist who was spending a quiet day fishing in Scotland when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both. As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, Oh, my God! Help me! and at once, the ferocious attack scene froze in place and as the atheist hung in mid air directly above the open jaws of the Loch Ness monster, a booming voice came down from the clouds saying, I thought you didn’t believe in me? The man replied, Come on God, give me a break! Two minutes ago I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness monster either!
Many people are like this guy. They don’t believe in God—until they get in between a rock and a hard place. When they find themselves in the fox holes of life even atheists have been known to cry out for God’s help.
As Christians we know God is real. People need to know that not only does God exist—he wants us to know he exists. God wants to be known—and by the way, that’s the only reason he can be known. You see, the only way we would be able to know God, is if he made himself known to us. He is infinitely above you and me.
In the Old Testament we meet up with Job who posed an important question. In Job 11:7 (NIV) he said, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” The answer is no. God is simply too big for us to understand. So if we are to have a relationship with God then he must reveal himself to us. He must take the initiative. And he has—God has revealed himself in several ways. In fact, he has left clues of his existence and attributes all around us.
God has made himself known in creation.
I mean, if we want to know that God exists—if we want to understand what he is like—all we have to do is open our eyes and look because Psalm 19:1-4 (CEV) says: “The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next; They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world”.
(Read What is God Like? – Part 2)