October 16, 2012
Transformational Thought
God is not like us. He’s not flesh and blood. The positive aspect of that is this: He is not limited by our human frailties and our finiteness. The down side is that He can seem distant and inaccessible to us. Even without the problem of sin, the idea of really knowing God is impossible for our finite minds. He is spirit only; we have a spirit confined in our bodies. He is infinite; we are limited. He is perfect; we are flawed. There are so many differences and the barriers between us seem impenetrable.
Wow, that came out more depressing than I thought it would. So, how can we know Him? Well, there’s good news on that front. God designed us with one key purpose in mind: relationship with Him. And He builds us for relationship with Him through the use of “analogy,” that is, by making us in His “image and likeness.”
Think of it this way. When we’re trying to explain a difficult concept, we create a word picture of some sort. We might use images from nature. The classic is using the “Birds and Bees” to explain where babies come from. We may refer to a common experience: “Remember the scene in ‘The Wizard of Oz’’ where Dorothy…”, “Remember that road trip we took to California?” or “You know how a sacrifice was needed for sin?” We use analogies all the time because when the other person can relate easily to a situation, we are able to communicate our ideas more clearly.
“That which is known about God is evident … for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen …” (Romans 1:19-20). God’s invisible attributes are expressed through the authority and morality He delegates to us. God uses this analogy for the same reason we do: so that we can understand all He communicates to us. Unfortunately, Satan is always trying to distort God’s analogies so that we become lost and confused.
Don’t let Satan have the either the first or the final word. Spending time with God allows you to understand His dialogue with you. His analogies will come alive with meaning because you will be in the middle of the real thing. Imagine the difference between someone describing what it is like to hang out with someone famous compared to actually hanging out with a celebrity who is interested in you,
Today, remember you were designed for something far better than just “getting by.” But if you feel like that’s all you’re doing, perhaps you’re not listening to God. He seeks a close, mentoring relationship with you. Stop and ask, “Why am I not spending more time with the One who knows me best and who truly knows what I need?” He is calling to you. His message is clear. Hopefully, Stepping Stones helps you hear Him and apply His teaching directly to your life. Connecting to a spiritual being to fulfill your design is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father, You built us to be in relationship with You. And You have been seeking to win us back since You called out to Adam and Eve in the garden, “Where are you?” Many times I hear you call for me, “Karl, where are you?” I confess, I hide behind some pretty transparent animal skins. I don’t even understand why I am hiding sometimes, but I want to. Thank You for Your recent working in my life to push me back into Your arms. Let me consistently desire the greatest thing of all, to be in relationship with You, O Father, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23