Have you ever wondered who God is? What He’s like? Is He important in your life, or just some far-off entity that waits to punish us when we go our own way? Is He angry with you, or is He a loving Father?

A little boy was asked to describe God.

“He’s an old man with a beard, looking over his maps.”

“What makes you think that?” asked the teacher.

“It’s in the prayer—Our Father, chart in heaven …”

We can have many misconceptions about God.

Scriptures Tell Us Who He Is

God told the Israelites centuries ago that He is faithful and loving to those who follow Him.

 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.”

—Deuteronomy 7: 9-10

His Love Extends Through Us to Others

He wants His love in us to also extend to our neighbors and yes, even our enemies.

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

—I John 4:8

He Rejoices Over His Followers

My mother was a vocal teacher with a beautiful soprano voice. I used to love to sing as well, but have lost that capability. But think about this scripture, one of my favorites.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

—Zephaniah 3:17

Can you picture God rejoicing over you in this incredibly meaningful picture?

“If”

Scripture also gives lots of “ifs”:

• If you follow my commandments
• If you obey me
• If you seek me with all your heart

And many others. God’s love extends to the entire world and the Bible says He is not willing that any should perish. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the penalty for the sins each of us has committed. But we have a choice whether to receive that forgiveness.

An Unexpected God Moment

Last week Don and I stopped for a quick lunch at Jack in the Box. As we walked toward the exit door, a young man complimented us on how nice we looked together (thank you!). He went on to say we had it all together.

“We don’t have it all together because of us,” I replied. “We have Jesus in our lives.”

He began to weep. We sat and talked with him for about 45 minutes. He is deeply addicted to alcohol, and says he knows it will kill him eventually. He can’t hold a job, his family is turning on him, and he cried most of the time we were with him.

We talked to him about Jesus’ love for him and the availability of forgiveness, and also gave him several contacts, especially Cityteam, that work with addiction issues.

Each of Us Has a Choice

But that young man has a choice. He told us he wants to recover. But whether he is willing to take the steps to allow that to happen is his choice. We pray he will follow through at some point.

Even so, each of us has a choice. Will we repent (turn from our self-centered, self-sufficient, and sinful ways), put our trust in Christ, or choose to continue on a path that leads to destruction– even one that’s what most people would call a “good” path.

Jesus said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

—John 14:6

Truth, or a Bold Lie?

That’s a pretty bold statement. Either it’s true, which I believe, or Jesus was deluded, claiming this as He did. You can’t have it both ways.

“Practically everything in a will hinges on a death. That’s why blood, the evidence of death, is used so much in our tradition, especially regarding forgiveness of sins.”

—Hebrews 9:22b, The Message

As our former pastor used to say, “He lived the life I couldn’t live, and died the death I should have died.” How I thank my Savior and Lord for His forgiveness, love, and faithfulness.

Who is Jesus to you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.