WHAT IS GOD LIKE

"Jesus is the image of the invisible God....God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus." -Col 1:15 & 19

The idea of God is a strange one isn't it? We say that he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfect and but we cannot physically see or touch him. How is a person supposed to "believe" in or "follow" a God so mysterious?

From the beginning of time, man has attempted to make sense of this invisible yet powerful God and we have largely failed. Our understanding of God today is incredibly splintered with more variations of God to choose from that there are colors of the rainbow. Belief in God right now is viewed as an every man for yourself activity where choosing what to believe is no different that choosing what to wear. We try on traits of God for size and analyze how they feel much like we mix-match outfits to wear. If we don't like God's justice in sending people to hell or disapprove of his sovereignty because of something bad that's happened, we either throw out those parts of God, try another religion, or throw out God altogether.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his divine nature and eternal power - have been clearly seen, and can be understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." - Romans 1:20

Although there are many aspects of God that are difficult to wrap one's mind around, his unequaled power and the fact that he's not human like us, but divine, seem indisputable. If you disagree, I challenge you to go stand on the top of a towering mountain or sit on the shore of a roaring ocean and ponder God. Any man who can do these things and still believe that man is the greatest being in the universe is either lying or a fool. Psalms 19:1 says that "the heaven declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Ever looked up into a star filled sky? What more evidence of God could you ask for than that? While there are no doubt parts of God such as his bigness that we will never fully understand, our inability to define God's boundaries or limitation should never get in the way of us seeking to know him. Hebrews 11:6 says that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists." This makes me think that not having all the answers is the way it was meant to be from the beginning and that choosing to believe in God bases on logic and reason alone is virtually impossible. God doesn't operate on human logic but on a greater logic that we don't understand. We need to either come to grips with this or stop talking about the idea of God altogether. It is because of this obvious evidence for God present everywhere we look that there will be no excuse for unbelief when we stand before God one day.

God doesn't ask that you and I come to him with all our ducks in a row and everything figured out. Actually he prefers the opposite, those who have lots of issues, questions and doubts, these were the people Jesus spent time with. Being a Christian though, or a Christ follower, requires more than a halfway belief in God or belief in only parts of Him. Jesus said in Luke 9:24 that "whoever holds onto his life [ a.k.a. his reputation, his status or whatever he cares about more than Christ] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." It's hard to give up your life for something you only partly believe in.

Who are you following? Are you following a mix-matched God of your own making, a religion that man made up, or the one true God? God might be invisible, but Colossians 1:15 reminds us that God has given his son Jesus to portray exactly what he's like. "Jesus is the image of the invisible God." The way that Jesus lived, loved, how he forgave and the compassion he had on people demonstrates the way that God loves, forgives and has compassion on you and I.

Want to learn more about God? Look to his son. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, located right in the middle of the Bible, tell us exactly what Jesus was like. Will you spend some time reading about Jesus so you can better know God today?

DON'T LOOK BACK

Here's the scene. Jesus has just asked a group of people to commit to following him. Two men show interest but both say they have matters to attend to first. One leaves to bury his father and the other asks Jesus if he can go say goodbye to his family. Listen to what Jesus has to say to these two mean as they walk away.

"Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 9:62

The very next words from Jesus recorded in Luke further elaborate at what he's getting at. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field." - Luke 10:2

Part of me can really relate to the practical thinking of the two men who left to tend to family matters before following Christ, but on the other hand, what can be more important that joining with up with the God of the universe and his plan to show love to the world. Many times, I think we respond to Jesus' invitation to join in what he is doing in the very same way that these two men did. "Jesus I want to spend time with you," we say, "but let me just send this email first." Before we know it, one email leads to something else and then our day is over without giving a thought to God or what he might have had in store for us along the way. Or we tell God we are going to start praying more or sharing about him more with others but we get so consumed by our busy lives that nothing happens. We make excuses, procrastinate and treat our spiritual life-line to God like a school project on the bottom of our to-do list. We let everything else crowd out our time and service to God so that he is left with next to nothing and before we know it we are dying spiritually instead of growing.

There will always be emails to send and we will always be busy. There will never be a good or convenient time to follow God, so the question then is not what must I do to free myself up for following him, but whether or not we will commit today to the Lord's service and to making everything else secondary in importance.

Can you name anything more important than helping share the story of God's love with the rest of the world? I can't, but this is a huge job! Our world and our culture is quickly moving away from God, and as of now, we're losing ground. The claims and credibility of Christians have become laughable in our country because so many of us live lives halfway serving God. When we claim to live for God and "push his plow" but spend most of our time looking back instead of ahead because we're distracted by other things, we do a bad job of plowing and make a pretty good mess of things. We either need to start giving our all to pushing the plow for God's kingdom by living lives that are radically defined by our love for God and others or stop plowing all together. To plow while looking backwards because our attention and affection are focused on something other than our God is careless and the reason why Christian hypocrisy is so rampant and disdained today.

My Grampa would always say, "driving a car is like driving a bullet," to remind people of the lethal potential driving has to kill and damage if one is careless or reckless. Driving a plow for the Lord's kingdom is no different. If you and I don't watch where we're going or how we're living, and if we don't take our stewardship as ambassadors for the king seriously, we may find ourselves sending bullets headlong into the reputation of God until he is so humiliated and embarrassed that nobody would want to believe in him. The writer of Hebrews reminds those of us plowing where our focus should be. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2).

I can't think of any better motivation to keep on plowing and to keep living in a manner that glorifies the Lord than to think upon what Jesus has done for us. He gave up everything, including his life, so that we could experience forgiveness, freedom from guilt, joy and peace. I wouldn't trade anything else in this world to give all that up and neither would you. Will you follow Christ without regret, make his name and glory your first priority, and push the plow without looking back today? The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

LIVING LIGHT

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30

I don't know about you, but sometimes being a follower of Christ to me feels neither restful nor easy. When we look at Jesus' life it seems that he was always helping or serving someone, shouldn't we be doing the same?

The number of people in our world who need to see and experience the reality of God's love is enormous and it can be incredibly tiresome to try and live with the weight of the world's problems on one's shoulders. I don't think God wants us to live that way. While Jesus did give sacrificially and to the point of exhaustion at times, he also knew when to say "no" as we can see in the following excerpt from Mark.

"That evening after sunset people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed, "Everybody is looking for you!"

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else - to nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." -Mark 1:32-38

If anybody had a busy schedule to keep, Jesus did. With diseases to heal, hurting people to help, and demons to cast out, there was never a shortage of things to be done. As we see in Mark, the disciples come to Jesus early one morning confused as to why he has disappeared when so many people are looking for his help and healing hand. Instead of heading back into town like we and his disciples might have expected, Jesus tells his disciples it's time to pack up and leave.

We can learn lots from how Jesus responded when the world begged for his attention. One thing is that our relationship with the heavenly father must always rank in importance above our commitments or service to others. If we do not take the time to be refreshed and reconnect with the God of the universe, our mission and ministry on his behalf will be compromised. Trying to a be a godly spouse, parent, employee and friend all at the same time can feel like a daunting task and is virtually impossible on our own power. This is why we must turn to the one "who is strong when we are weak" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Spending time with the savior is a choice and one that always requires putting other things on hold. This isn't easy, especially when you have a busy day ahead, but I think you'll actually find that you get more done when you do.

Jesus also reminds us that we shouldn't be afraid of saying "no". The great thing about the body of Christ is that one person doesn't have to be everything to everybody. Jesus didn't have one disciple, he had twelve, and sent them all out to reach different people in different ways. He sends you and I in the same way, as one messenger of many, to impact a select group of people. Trying to make an impact everywhere, all at once, and being stretched to the max will almost always prevent us from being effective at all. Paul reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 5:24 that the God who calls us to serve in a particular place or particular way will be faithful to take care of everything and everyone that we're not. Being part of God's team should never be a burden because we know that what God doesn't do through us, he will accomplish through another.

Where has God called you to be a light and example for him? Focus on that today and on being faithful with the opportunities that you've been given.

IN THE BUSINESS

During the 1st century, every Jewish boy was expected to enroll in school at a young age so they could try their hand at learning the Hebrew religious tradition. By the time the teenage years rolled around, the top performers who showed the greatest proficiency moved on to further Rabbinic training while the remaining kids were sent home to learn a trade from dad.

So when Jesus calls a group of young fisherman to be his disciples in Luke 5, everybody in that day would have known that these weren't the brightest of dudes. There were the dropouts from religious training school and just your typical, normal, everyday average Joes. There were hundreds of bright, up and coming religious leaders that Jesus could have asked to be his followers, but he didn't. Instead he chose to spend his time teaching and molding these humble fisherman into the pillars of the early church that would turn the world upside down. Luckily for you and I, Jesus is still in the business of training and using humble, normal, average, everyday people who have no business being used by God. All he asks is that we're ready and willing to learn. Are you?

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are...It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus... Therefore let him who boasts boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:27-30

NEVER SATISFIED

"So they asked him, 'What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see and believe in you? What will you do?'" -John 6:30

These words came from the people of Israel less than 24 hours after Jesus fed five thousand people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and then walked on water. What more could they ask for? These people had seen and heard about all that Jesus was doing yet they were still unsatisfied and unwilling to believe or follow him. In alot of ways we're no different today.

We know all about Jesus, we've read about his miracles and have even seen the power of God radically change the life of somebody we know, yet we're still wanting more. We have questions about God and doubts about him that we use to excuse our unbelief or lack of following through with what God asks us to do. "If only I knew the answer to question X" we say, then I'll believe and give my life to him. If we want to be his disciple we must follow him like his disciples did.

The apostle Peter first met Jesus on a fishing trip. He and his buddies had been fishing all night with horrible luck when Jesus walks up and asks to go come on board. Peter agrees and upon meeting Jesus calls him Rabbi, or master, out of respect as was the custom when speaking to a Jewish teacher. As the men push out into the deep water, Jesus tells them where to cast their nets and orchestrates a record catch. Catching two boats of fish during daylight hours was unheard in those days since fish could easily see the bulky nets coming and avoid being caught, but not with Jesus. Peter and his buddies had witnessed not only a record catch but a miracle and they knew it. Luke 5:8 tells us that after all this happened, Peter fell to his knees in front of Jesus and said, "Get away from me LORD I am a sinful man." Notice that Peter no longer calls Jesus master, now he calls him Lord. Because of all that happened that day, Peter and his buddies "left everything and followed him" (Luke 5:11).

Peter didn't see much but he knew something special when he saw it. He wasn't the brightest of guys but he witnessed enough to know that no man could do what Jesus had done and that he had to be the Son of God. When will that reality fully set in with you and I? It seems to me that some of us have barricaded ourselves deep into a room full of doubts and what ifs for the sole purpose of keeping Jesus out. We lock all ten locks on the door and pile twenty pieces of furniture behind it. Each lock to us is a doubt and each piece of furniture an unanswered question about God.

How is refusing to follow Jesus until all doubts are settled and all questions answered any different than the Jewish people refusing to believe until they witnessed another miracles? How much more information does a person need? I say all this because I think doubts and questions are part of faith which the Bible says is required for any man to please God. If faith is part of life, that means we'll never have ALL the answers and there's no way around it. My fear is that some of us will spend our entire lives locked away and barricaded from the amazing truth and life of Jesus that lies just opposite the door we refuse to open.

In revelation 3:20 God says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Jesus is knocking, what will it take for you to open that door and consider the evidence that he's real? What will it take for you to invite him in?

Somehow we all have to make sense of this world. I find is hard to explain the complexity and wonder of creation without thinking that there's a God. I find it hard not to believe that the Bible is true given it's historical accuracy and numerous fulfilled prophecies that point to divine inspiration. I find it hard not to believe that Jesus really did live, die on a cross and rise from the dead given the large number of people that have voluntarily gone to their death for their belief. Some might say that people of many faiths die for what they believe, but not voluntarily. Suicide bombers and the like die because they believe their action proves their dedication and will ensure them a better place in heaven. Early Christians and even some believers today die because they have experienced the incredible power of God in their lives and they know he's real.

How will you make sense of the world? Jesus said in Luke 12:48 that, "To whom much is given, much will be expected." You and I have been given amazing resources like the internet and thousands of books that we can use to make sense of Jesus' claims and the possibility that he might be real while people of other countries do not have access to such things. Based on Jesus' words, I feel confident that when the time comes to stand before God's throne, both will be judged accordingly and much more will be expected of you and I. When will you unlock the door, examine the evidence for Jesus and do some investigating?

I hope that when you do you'll fall to your knees like Peter, overwhelmed by the greatness of our God. I hope He will be more than just a master to you, but your LORD instead, and one who is worth following even if it means leaving everything else behind.

STYLING AND PROFILING

"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Jesus. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God." - John 12:42-43

Every person on the face of the planet must at some point make a decision as to what they truly believe about Jesus. Was he just a good man, did he exist at all or was he really the Son of God who rose from the dead? I have written more in detail about this on an older post, click here to read why I think the later is true.

If we're all to be honest, I fear many of us or are like the religious leaders in John that ride the fence when it comes to Jesus. We know we badly need a savior and want to put our faith in him but we are so scared to do so for fear of what that would mean. We're afraid that choosing to believe and follow Him would change our life completely, putting our reputation and life of comfort at stake, so we decide against it. Instead we choose to spend our time worried about "styling and profiling" as Dr. Rick Rigsby likes to say, looking good for other people, buying stuff, getting recognized and showing off.

We are much like the rich young ruler in Luke 18 who asked Jesus what to do in order to receive eternal life. Jesus replied, "Sell everything you have and give to the poor....Then come, follow me." Jesus knew the young ruler and we as humans like to follow God with stings attached and that's exactly why he told him to let go before he could follow. He is telling you and I the very same thing today. Following Jesus doesn't mean we'll become poor but it does mean rearranging our priorities so that he always comes first. We give him control of our finances and give money away if that's what he asks. We give him our time and become willing to serve others and not just ourselves. When Jesus becomes of utmost importance to us, everything else from our reputation to finances is now of secondary importance and takes a back seat to God being glorified in and through our lives. Jesus' response saddened the rich young ruler and it is what keeps many of us from following God with all our heart, soul, mind, time, and energy. We hold out on Christ, giving him only the parts of us that are easy to give while holding onto the things we value most. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus reminds us what following him really means. "No man can serve two masters. He will always love one and hate the other." If we really believe in God's Son we are told to "follow Him" but before we do we need to give him free reign in our lives. Following God while holding onto the things of this world is the equivalent of bringing everything you own on a hiking trip through the woods. Our stuff and our possessions inevitably slow us down and hinder us from being able to follow our guide. Are you willing to lighten you pack so you can follow better?

Just like the leaders in John 12, our reason for holding out on God is usually the fear of what other people will think. "We are more concerned with the praise of men than the praise of God" and fear the opinions of people more than how we are viewed by the God of the universe. Now that's doesn't sound right. JR Vasser, a pastor in New York, uses the following list of questions from Ed Welch's book "When people are big and God is small" to help you and I identify whether we're living for the right reasons.

• Do you crave the compliments of others or ever say derogatory things about yourself so that people will correct you with a compliment?
• Do you spend you life managing your reputation?
• Are you overly concerned about your weight, the way you look or the way you dress?
• Do you feel unappreciated or that people don't notice all the things you do?
• To you make excuses for your mistakes, justify your actions or shift blame to avoid failure?
• Do you show favoritism to people who can do something for you or make you look good?
• Are you over committed because of an incessant need to feel that you matter?
• Do you get nervous about being or speaking in groups?
• Do you spend money trying and live the type of life you or others think you should?
• Do you compare yourself to others and feel good when you win and bad when you lose?
  

These things above all describe the fear of man and will hold a person in horrible, miserable bondage for as long as they'll allow it. The fear of man has no limit and viciously consumes until all the life and joy has been sucked out of a man. We must remember that God defines success, wealth and beauty much different than the rest of the world and all that matters is how we are viewed in his eyes.

In Matthew 10:33, Jesus reminds us that fearing man in the place of God has eternal repercussions. "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Choosing to follow Christ comes with a cost. It might change the way we live and will certainly change the way we are viewed by some by the reward is far greater. In choosing to fear Christ above man we are guaranteed an eternal inheritance beyond description and an abundant life while on earth full of the purpose and peace that can only come through serving God.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his soul?" -Luke 9:23-25

Matt Chandler likes to say that Jesus has lots of admirers but few disciples. Will you continue to admire him from afar for fear of what it would mean to really follow or will you throw aside the opinions and values of this world in order to be his disciple?