Who Does God Think He Is?

God said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

Most people believe in God, but they do not believe in the God of the Bible. They believe in a god of love, but not in the God of judgment. They believe in a god who will help you, but not in the God who will hold you accountable to His standard of holiness.

How is it with you? What do you believe?

Many see God as a spiritual Santa who, if they are good, will bring them all the things they have on their wish list. Others see God as a genie in a bottle, who will appear when summoned to answer their requests. The fallen, sinful human nature pines for a god of their imagination, not the God of revelation. Why? Because a god of the imagination gives you what you want, places no demands on you, and leaves you alone until the next time you want him (or her or it) for something.

But this is not for you! I recently reminded our congregation of a scene in the 1966 movie, The Bible, which was based on the events described in Genesis 22. Abraham (played by George C. Scott) is commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obediently travels to the place God told him to go, fastens Isaac to the altar, and prepares to sacrifice him. God stops Abraham and shows him a substitute for the sacrifice: a ram caught in the thicket. In the movie, Isaac asks his father, “Is there nothing of thee He cannot ask?” Abraham replies, “Nothing.”

While that exchange between Abraham and Isaac is not recorded in sacred Scripture, it is entirely accurate. You see, the God of the Bible is the One True Living God, who is in control of all things (Romans 11;36). He is the great, the mighty, the awesome God (Deuteronomy 10:19), a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). When He came down on Mount Sinai, the mountain was covered with smoke and trembled violently (Exodus 19:18). God is holy and just; His eyes are too pure to even look on evil (Habakkuk 1:13) and He cannot tolerate sin. He is the God who said that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But this awesome, holy, righteous God is also a God of astonishing love and amazing grace. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins so we could be brought back into a right relationship with Him. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Who does God think He is? GOD! He says, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. . . . I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9). He is God the Lord, “who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it” (Isaiah 42:5). He is the God of all the universe . . . and yet He loved you enough to die for you.

Is he your God today? If He is, remember, there is nothing He cannot ask of you. But there is nothing that can or will take away His love for you.  

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!