Redeeming the Time: Getting to Know the God of the Bible

In our journey of faith, one of the most crucial truths we must grasp is this: everything in our lives revolves around what we think about God. If our understanding of God is wrong, it will affect every area of our existence. We must pursue a right understanding of God according to the Bible, and this understanding can only come through Jesus Christ.

Who Is the God of the Bible?

The very first verse of Scripture declares something profound: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). These four words - "In the beginning, God" - may be the most important words ever written. They establish the foundation for everything that follows.

When Moses wrote these words to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, he was addressing a people who had been surrounded by false gods for 400 years in Egypt. They knew they served the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but they didn't truly know Him. Moses was revealing to them that their God wasn't just another deity among many - He was the Creator of everything that exists.

God's Self-Revelation

When Moses asked God for His name in Exodus 3:13-15, God responded with the powerful declaration: "I AM WHO I AM." This wasn't just a name; it was a revelation of God's eternal, self-existent nature. He doesn't depend on anything or anyone for His existence. He simply is.

How Can We Know This Infinite God?

The challenge we face is that God is infinite, invisible, and beyond human comprehension. He is almighty, most wise, most holy, completely free and absolute. So how can finite beings like us know an infinite God?

Jesus: The Perfect Revelation of God

The answer is found in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person." Jesus isn't just similar to God or a reflection of God - He is the exact imprint of God's very essence.

Colossians 1:15-18 emphasizes that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells." This means that if you want to know what God is like in His character, compassion, and authority, you look at Jesus. As Jesus Himself said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

What Does It Mean That God Is Sovereign?

Understanding God's sovereignty is crucial for our faith. God is the source of all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness. He doesn't need any of His creatures, nor does He gain anything from them. Rather, He reveals His glory through them.

This means God does what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants - and what He wants is always right and true. He is never surprised, never unaware, never unprepared, never confused. His judgments are never mistaken or biased.

The Trinity: Perfect Community

God exists as a Trinity - three persons of one substance: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These aren't three functions or modes, but three distinct persons functioning in perfect unity and love without argument or disagreement.

How Should This Change My Daily Life?

Knowing who God truly is should transform how we approach every aspect of life. Too often, we treat God like a genie in a bottle, hoping He'll make our dreams come true if we just believe hard enough. But biblical faith isn't faith that God will do something for us - it's faith in God, period.

When God Doesn't Answer Our Prayers

God may not heal you. He may not fill your bank account or make all your dreams come true. But because we have faith in Him, we can trust that He knows what's best for us. This brings far more peace than trying to muster up enough mental energy to make our wishes come true.

What About Our Inconsistencies?

Even as believers who love God with all our hearts, we sometimes act as though He doesn't exist. This might be called "practical atheism" - those moments when we cheat, gossip, lose our temper, or act in ways that contradict our faith.

Acknowledging these inconsistencies isn't about condemnation - it's about growth. We can't confess and receive forgiveness for sins we won't acknowledge. Every believer struggles with this tension between what we believe and how we sometimes act.

God's Attributes in Our Everyday Struggles

When You Don't Know What to Do

Remember that you serve the omniscient God - the all-knowing God. He has perfect knowledge of your situation and can guide you through it if you'll submit to Him instead of trying to figure everything out on your own.

When You Feel Weak

You serve an omnipotent God - the all-powerful God. No matter how weak you feel spiritually, emotionally, or physically, His strength is available to you.

When You Feel Alone

God is omnipresent - always present with you. Hebrews 13:5 uses five negatives to emphasize one positive truth: "Never, never, no, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you." Even when no one else is there, God is with you.

When Everything Seems Uncertain

God is immutable - He never changes. His Word remains the same, His character is constant, and His promises are sure. What He said yesterday applies today because He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to live in the reality of who God truly is. When anxiety grips your heart, remind yourself that the Creator of the universe is your Heavenly Father. When you face decisions, remember that the all-knowing God can guide you. When you feel overwhelmed, recall that the all-powerful God is with you.

Most importantly, spend time getting to know God through His Word and through Jesus Christ. Don't just acknowledge that you believe in God - pursue a deeper relationship with Him.

Ask yourself these questions:

• In what areas of my life do I act as though God doesn't exist?
• How would my daily decisions change if I truly lived in awareness of God's omnipresence?
• What situations am I trying to handle in my own strength instead of trusting in God's omnipotence?
• How can I better align my understanding of God with what Scripture reveals about Him?

Remember, everything in your life is shaped by what you think about God. Make sure your concept of Him is grounded in Scripture and revealed through Jesus Christ, who is the exact image of the invisible God.