God: Mistaken Identity or Mix-up Flip Book?

I was discussing, with a friend, a class we had in high school. As we reminisced I said, “And remember that ‘_____’ sat right behind me?” As we discussed how cute we used to think he was, it started to become obvious that we were not talking about the same boy. In fact, we had to grab the yearbook and look him up. Sure enough, I was talking about one person, while she was remembering another.

Now, I have quite a selective memory. I could easily sing you the lyrics from my favorite 80’s song, but obviously not remember the correct name of who sat behind me in Algebra 30 years ago. I have even gone so far as to mix two people together before. I guess I just choose the characteristics I remember and put them together in one person, like those silly mix-up flip books that put the top half of characters on the bottom half of others. In a book, it’s fantastic! With real people? It doesn’t work so well.

We have a tendency to do the same with God. If we do have a very specific idea of who He is, we find out quickly that other people hold a view that is very different. Just like the boy in my Algebra class could not possibly be the same person as who my friend thought he was. Likewise, all ideas of who God is, cannot be the same person. That is impossible.

Sometimes, rather than adhering to a specific view, we like to choose the aspects of a God we like. Many feel the wild, untamable God of the Bible is scary and wants too much from us, so it’s easier to choose to believe in a God who only loves, like a benevolent old Grandfather. He gives us what we want and doesn’t judge. It’s also easier to believe in a God who created the world, but sits far removed; ordering, not interfering. However, if we have any hope of true joy, then we have to discover what is real. A made up Grandfather or a cold distant intellect is just not going to do. Our belief has to match reality before we discover what is true, and what is meaningful.
This is what God has revealed about himself:

I am eternal.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. Psalm 90:1-6

I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

I am all powerful.
Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. Isaiah 46:8-11

Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. Psalm 135:6

I am all knowing.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5

I am all sufficient.
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. Acts 17:24-25

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14

I am the creator of everything.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3

I am not a fan of pulling Bible verses out of context to prove points, so I encourage you to read these verses in context of chapters and even the full books as you have time. What I say here has no bearing on anything if it does not match the truth of the Bible.

In the coming posts we are going to explore each of these attributes of God, dwelling on the awesome power that they hold to change our life. I warn you, you will not understand all of it. The most genius of us throughout history could not fathom all of God. And that is splendidly good news! If a being as infinite as God was completely knowable to our finite minds, then He wouldn’t be infinite would He? There is huge benefit to our joy in being able to press up against the infinite in awe, while yet being unable to fully comprehend just how awesome it is. My hope it that we can flip all the pictures in our flip book to the correct pages and see the picture that God wants us to see – as clearly as our minds are capable of seeing.