Who is God to you? A close friend? A stranger? A loving Father? A scary judge? A far-off hazy idea? A Savior? A vague higher power?
One day in Wal-Mart with the entire family, my teenage son, Josh, went off to check out the newest CDs in the electronics department. On his return to the grocery aisles, we all excitedly called out, “Hey Josh! You’re back!” It struck me that I was standing there surrounded by people and yet Joshua’s return was special to us because we have a relationship with him. He’s family.
I began to think about our relationship to God and how it related to what I just felt at seeing my son. For me, seeing evidence of God’s hand in my life is an exciting and welcome thing because I have a relationship with my heavenly Father. I’m excited to see what He is going to do next because I know Him to be a faithful, loving God who has forgiven my sins and adopted me as His child. (Ephesians 1:5) I not only know the truth of His word, but I’ve experienced it. I can say with the Psalmist that I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
As we continued through the store, my mind still thinking about this relationship connection, I began to really look around me at the many faces. Most were complete strangers. One or two I recognized as acquaintances and I would wave or nod and say hello. Some of the people looked interesting, some simply blended in with the crowd. Some people seemed a little strange, while others appeared to be very nice. Some people seemed frazzled , while some appeared to be having a good time.
It occurred to me that by judging by their outward appearance I could be dead wrong in my estimations of them as people. Without talking to them and getting to know them, I truly know very little about them. To know them best, it would take time with them and a relationship. That mom struggling with her disobedient children may not be a bad mom, she may simply be having a rough day. That rough-looking, tattoo-covered man may be a child of God. I would have no way to know without getting to know him.
So, what is your view of God based on? Are you basing your view on your own observations of life or are you getting to know God? Are you basing your faith on what others tell you about God or are you searching His word to know Him better? Truly the only way to know God is to seek Him out for yourself. Others who already know God can help point you in the right direction, but we must seek God out for ourselves to truly know Him. We all need to base our faith on the truth of God’s word and then spend time in prayer to seek out how His word applies to our daily lives. The good news is, even as our view of God changes as we get to know Him, God himself never changes. He is the only constant in this ever-changing world and He promises to reveal Himself to whomever will seek Him with their whole hearts. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:12-13) So, seek Him out. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you and you’ll never regret it. He wants to call you His child. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to be family. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1)
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