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God is not a curse word, a slang word, or even a word to be used carelessly. He deserves the utmost of our respect. God is not dead. He is eternally alive - the alpha and omega – the beginning and the end. God is not an idea. He is not created with the imaginings of men. He is the self-existent one, revealed in the attributes and character of His essence to the heart of faith. He is not a far-distant god. His eternal presence walks with the believer in the shadows of difficulty and in the sunshine of our joys. He is not old-fashioned, unduly puritanical, or out of touch with reality. He oversees the affairs of men with knowledge and wisdom. His principles of truth transcend generations and cultures.
He is not a religion. He does not delight in rituals and performances, but in the heart that wants to know Him and obey Him more fully. He is not a dogma to be intellectualized. He desires the warmth and intimacy of our fellowship. He is not desirous of Sunday-only worship. He asks for a love and a commitment that are all-consuming from the dawn of each day until weariness tucks itself in at night. He is not just for kids, or the aged, or the dying. The pure in heart are all His kids, but His message is for those who want to choose perseverance and maturity. He is not in a box. He does not conform to our expectations. He is not "the terminator," intent on condemnation of the sinner, or the swift punishment of His wayward child. His love seeks to draw the sinner to Himself, and His patience gives gentle guidance to His child. Still, He is not simply an insurance policy to keep us out of hell. He longs to be known as Father, Shepherd, Comforter, and Guide. He takes joy in our obedience, and delights in our praise.
He is not "the spoiler," intent on making life miserable for His followers. His commands are for our good, and His truth is the path of freedom. He is not Santa Claus or a genie, bending his ear to attend to our wish list. He chooses what is best for us, although we may not always see it as such. He is not Superman. He is more powerful than any real or fictitious being, but He does not flaunt His power to satisfy our whim. He is not a deceiver or a manipulator. He accomplishes His purposes with honesty and integrity. He is not though by any means, a "control freak." He always allows us to choose, although sometimes we would prefer He would just keep us out of the messes we can get ourselves into. He is not one who makes mistakes or says, "Oops!" His sovereignty is continually engaged. He is not unfair, uncaring, or unloving. Quite the contrary, His love is wholly perfect, compassionate, and just. He is not unresponsive or uninvolved. He may respond in quiet and unobtrusive ways, but His sovereignty touches the intimate details of our lives. He is not one I need to forgive, or one I need to make excuses for. I may not understand His ways, but I can trust His heart.
He is not contradictory or inconsistent. He is always true to the essence of His heart, His character, and His purposes. He is not the originator of evil. He never has been, and He never will be. He is not a liar. He is truth itself and He cannot lie. He is never prejudicial or tolerant of the prejudices of men. He obliterates manmade distinctions, and extends grace and acceptance to all who come to Him on the basis of the finished sacrificial work of His Son. He is not hidden beyond our finding. The heart that seeks Him is promised it will find Him.
He may be maligned, misunderstood, misrepresented, and seemingly, misplaced ... but, He is still God. Central. Eternal. And fully alive.
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