God is getting a bad wrap. Why? Because Christians – true Christ-followers – are getting a bad wrap. Why? True Christ-followers believe that the Bible is inerrant and that good and evil can be defined by a holy God and Him alone. Christ-followers know that Jesus did not come on the scene to alter or negate the Word of God, but to fulfill it. Real Christ-followers know that without God, we are doomed as sinners.
No doubt there are Christians that are not living Christ-like lives. We have been given the example of Jesus – who was both man and God, and we were directed to pattern our lives after his. We fall short. However, I would also like to state that the pattern Jesus set for us – the things that were important to him, his interactions with people, the choices that he made, the powers that were demonstrated through him – all of these things which we love about Jesus – were in fact revealing to us the character of the Father.
Jesus said that when we see him, we have seen the Father who sent him. (John 14:9) Isn’t it interesting that so many people find Jesus so easy to love and embrace, but struggle to love and embrace the Father in the same way? They see Jesus as loving, but God the Father as punishing. They see Jesus as accepting of everyone, but God the Father as exclusive. They see Jesus as sacrifice, but God as some sort of uncaring sacrificer.
I could go on. Instead, I will move on with my point.
If Jesus was the mirror image of God, if Jesus was the sinless lamb of God, how then can we think of the two so differently? This is where I believe so many are getting it wrong. I believe, based on my personal study of the scriptures that Jesus was not lying about who he was. He fulfilled the prophecies – all of them. History proves his existence. He was Emmanuel – God with us. I believe that Jesus knew the Word of God so well because he was with God even before he arrived on earth. No doubt Jesus showed love, justice, and righteousness in ways that were radically different than anyone else was showing. Why? Because God is radically different than we are. Period.
Neither Jesus nor God the Father have any sin in them. They hold wisdom beyond our human comprehension. They hold understanding of truth that is not “interpretive” or “subjective” to life experiences and baggage. They are 100% holy. 100% good. 100% of the time.
To know and love one is to know and love the other. If we find ourselves picking or choosing one while discarding the other, we are not actually following in truth. We have somewhere changed or perverted the character of God and/or His Son if we can somehow separate their character one from the other.
Jesus agreed with God. Jesus was obedient to God’s commands. Jesus was loving, but was never embracing, permitting, or even encouraging sin. He couldn’t.
Now, this is not what is being taught by culture and even within many churches. Some people love the idea of Jesus’ love and how he treated people, that they have skewed that concept to have him become passive toward sin and uncaring toward the law and God’s commands. That’s frankly a contradiction to who Jesus was. That would make Jesus a lone ranger – operating apart from God – which he couldn’t. That would also mean that Jesus was not holy – which contradicts his very character. Jesus cares about what God cares about. He is a part of God and cannot contradict Him.
The truth is, God doesn’t deserve the bad wrap. Man does. Sin does. God does not.
I want to share a few verses describing God that I came across this morning. Who is God? Why should we follow him? Why should we obey him?
“But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 9:24) God demonstrates unfailing love, and delights in justice and righteousness.
“LORD, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power. Who would not fear you, O King of nations? That title belongs to you alone! Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like you.” (Jeremiah 10:6-7) God is great and full of power. Wisdom belongs to him alone.
“But the LORD is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting king! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations cannot stand up to his wrath.” (Jeremiah 10:10) God is living and everlasting. His wrath is not human wrath. He is holy and desires holiness for his children.
“But the LORD made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.” (Jeremiah 10:12-13) God is the creator of all things. What He speaks comes into being. All creation is at His command.
“But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name!” (Jeremiah 10:16) God is the One and only. All others are idols – false gods. Not the LORD. God also has a special possession – those who love and follow Him are set apart.
Don’t believe the lies about who God is. Seek him. Study him. Grow in your understanding of who He is. We, as sinners, may not always agree with or understand why God says and does what He does – but that should not be a reflection upon God and His character. He is holy. We are the ones filtering through sin and selfishness. If we can look at God as he is – holy and good, just and righteous, unchanging yet loving, wise and discerning, full of grace and mercy yet still a disciplining and caring parent – how could we not increase in our love and respect for Him?
Blessings!