As I read through the New Testament last summer, I quickly began to see a disconnect between the God I was reading about and the God that I thought I knew and was in relationship with. I was dumbfounded when I got to Acts; I had never heard about the being “baptized” or “receiving” the Holy Spirit and didn’t realize that the disciples had the power and authority to do everything that Jesus did. I had never heard that Jesus proclaimed, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Let’s pause for just a second and remember the types of things that Jesus did – He gave sight to the blind, ate with sinners and outcasts, healed the sick, oh yeah, and he turned everything upside down when he died for our sins so we could stand spotless before God. What could be greater than that?!
I started asking questions of those around me but was never fully satisfied with the answers I received. Why had I never heard about this? Why hadn’t any of the sermons I heard over my lifetime mentioned any of this? Why weren’t miracles and healings and living in accordance to the Spirit’s guidance apart of everyday life? Was it just because we were in the United States? Does God limit His power due to geography? Does God not work that way anymore?
I continued reading and when I got to Hebrews, I hit another conundrum. Chapter 13, verse 8 reads, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. Okay, so God doesn’t change. Seems simple enough right?
But do we truly believe this?
I don’t think we do. Because if this is true, then that means God really is who He says He is. He declares in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM” and tells Moses in verse 15, “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation”, implying that He isn’t going anywhere. I can’t think of anything else that simultaneously scares the crap out of me, makes me want to stand in reverence, and yet instills a longing to know more.
According to scripture, God reveals to us that He is:
Eternal
Holy
Unchanging
All powerful
Ever present
All knowing
Good
Gracious
Loving
Merciful
Just
Sovereign
What if God is who He says He is? What if He is all of the above and more? What does that mean for our lives? What does that mean for who we are?
I think it can changes everything.
As I read through the above (and abbreviated) list of God’s characteristics, I catch myself nodding along, knowing in my head that they are true but not genuinely knowing that in my heart. This disconnect, first realized a year ago and since tucked away in the corner of my mind, resurfaced last week at training camp. As one of our squad leaders shared her heart with us – that we would be able to discover this year who God says that He is and who He says that we are – I sat on the floor dumbfounded.
Whether I had consciously realized it or not, this is EXACTLY what the upcoming year is about. It is a period of time set apart to explore and discover and come to truly know in a very real way that God is a God of the storms, that He can move mountains, that He is the great healer, the great comforter, the master planner, and loves me beyond comprehension.
Knowing this in the depths of my soul, having it fill my belly, nourish my mind, and strengthen my feeble arms and week knees, changes everything.
Let this be a year of discovery, growth, and acceptance of the most important truth there is;
God is who He says He is.
Fundraising update: in order to leave in September, I need to raise $2,500 by August 18th. If you feel lead to donate, click the tab on the left column below my picture! Every donation is an incredible blessing!
