A famous author once wrote a text; When God Does not Exist! And this text found its way into many controversies for or against the belief in the existence of God. Some have claimed that God does not exist, while some claim that yes, God does exist. So before we commence, what do you think? Who is God? Your answer would either reveal your belief in the existence of God or not; and if He does exist, the knowledge of Him.
Firstly, this write up comes from the premise that God does exists. It goes further to attempt to say who I believe God is. For the sake of disambiguity, in this context we are referring to the God with the Big Letter “G” and not god with the small letter ”g”. Some may not know the difference. This write up may not serve the best purpose to explain fully the difference but it would attempt a brief explanation. When we refer to the Almighty God, the creator of the universe, the omnipotent, omnipresence, omniscient, we use the big G to refer to God. However, when we wish to refer to other forms of belief systems or deities who we cannot ascribe all power and authority to, we use the small letter g for god. In some context, they are referred to as smaller gods.
In actuality, there is only one God and there is no other! Other forms of worship are referred to as idolatry; meaning; the worship of that which is not God as if it were. Or better still, creating a false image of God. The best term to give to honouring other belief systems is regarded as veneration, with the mindset that there is one true and great God, who only deserves and demands all our worship. Even with this knowledge, worship of other gods is a daily practice amongst people, even Christians. You may wonder how, right?
True worship of God is the attention, reverence, importance, dependence and submission we give to Him above any other. As Jesus would reveal, that we must worship in spirit and truth. Hence, worship is from the mind and a deep association of that we revere or desire. Once our attention reserved or due to God is diverted to any other; be it human, animal or thing, we can say we are worshiping other gods. We may not necessarily need to bow or prostrate before the person or thing. It is the devotion and importance that our heart has placed on the person or thing that reverences it. Again, Jesus advises; we cannot serve God and mammon. Jesus understands that there is the temptation to deny God His due while diverting our attention to Mammon. Thus making mammon our God. Now we know what God is not… God is not the frivolities of life we worship; people, things, lust and desires.
Again, God is not the sun, moon, stars or Sea or physical or spiritual forms we imagine and rely upon for the manifestation of our will and realization of the promises of an unknown and hopefully a better future. God is rather the maker of everything for His pleasure, the benefit of man and the glory of God’s name. God is that who created all out of love and wills that all would find communion with Him in His perfect will. Unfortunately, man has focused on the created thing and forgotten the creator.
The fool say in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1
A quick analogy is that of a parent who adorns his/her child with gifts and the child is more interested in the gift received than the giver of the gift. The gifts, for a period time, guarantees the child’s happiness (and probably determine the quality of relationship with the parent). At the receipt of the gift, the child immediately leaves the presence of the parent to try out the gift. The child only comes back when s/he is in need of something else. Then along the line, once the child is grown and does not depend on the parent for gifts or existence, s/he estranges his/herself from the parent and focuses on pursing those items that guarantees his/her happiness. The basis of our family life is the love and relationship we share. The gifts we share in the family are not the basis of family life. There is a love, a bond and a communion that is the basis of the family. What an analogy and how does this relate to who God is?
God is our creator and in biblical reference is Our Father. A father who longs to give His children beautiful gifts and bring them happiness. However, the children are often focused on the gifts rather than the true relationship that God wants to share. And once we have the means to get whatever we need we are tempted to relegate God to the background. We now focus on those things that provide us with all we want. We focus on our intellect, our contacts/connection/network, our bodies, our influence, our wealth etc. We reverence these things and are committed to spend more time on these than we would with God. We are even committed to keep improving in these areas because we have fashioned our mindset that these things are the source of our blessings, joy and fulfilment. Are they? Some have even claimed that God is not real just as many have denied their parents because their parents couldn’t provide for them.
Many societies have chosen to celebrate science, education or knowledge over the mentioning of God in their communities. They wish to believe that everything can be proven scientifically and do not need the backing or attribute to God. Unfortunately, when catastrophe strikes, these people almost immediately return to calling on God’s name and seeking for God’s help. There are cases of sportsmen/athletes fainting on the field of play, and the whole stadium or arena, in unison pray to God. At that point, not the doctors or money or perfected systems can revive the patient and they only hope that God would prevail. Even on national TVs, the presenters go spiritual and forget that had relegated God to the background. God now has come to the fore.
Cases of natural disasters or catastrophes have also evoked the need for whole nations to call on God. At that point, no one tries to be religious or sect inclined. Everybody calls on God! They all seem to know him at that point. Have you ever been on a plane when there is serious turbulence or a threat of a plane crash? Like a child who calls out to his/her parent when in danger, that natural reaction in calling out to God is the general response in such scenarios. So I wonder, who is this God everyone calls when the chips are down and the heart, the soul and that part of man that can’t lie to itself yearns for?
As a Christian, I have found God to be the Supreme Being, the unmoved mover, unchanged changer, the source of all things, the creator and maker of everything visible and invisible. He is Almighty and Invincible. He is the beginning and the end. He is in all things and is everything. In the simplest form or phrase; He is “I Am that I Am” (Exodus 3:14). Whatever you say He is to you that is what He is. He is Father, Shepherd, King and Lord of all. All we know of God are just attributes of God and do not fully define Him. This is because we can’t know Him enough and He reveals Himself to people differently. How has God revealed Himself to you? I would like your feedback in the comment section.
As we conclude I wish to say that amongst many things, God is love, mercy and power. If there is anything you ought to remember form the various appellation mentioned, please remember this: God is Our Creator and Father, He is love and loves us dearly. Like every good parent, God is continually interested in connecting and uniting with us. He desires we are in one communion with Him. God created us to know Him, love Him and serve Him. God is love!