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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.
Showing posts with label meet God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meet God. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Where Can I Meet God?

 I believe you mean, “Where can I find God?” ”Truly You are a God who hide Yourself, O God of Israel …” (cf. Isaiah 45:15). Christians believe in the God who is there; He is there and He is not silent! Jehovah-Shammah means “the God who is there.” Jesus name means “God is with us,” meaning that He lives in us through the Holy Spirit when we believe in Him (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Col. 1:27). Jesus promised to always be with us (cf. Matt. 28:20). “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” (cf. James 4:8). He is not far from any one of us (cf. Acts 17:27). Caveat: No one comes to the Father except through Jesus the Son. (cf. John 14:6).

Even Job wondered at God’s presence,, “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him…” (cf. Job 23:3). God promises that all those who seek with their whole heart or sincerely and not as triflers will find Him: “if you search for Me with all your heart…” (cf. Jer. 29:13; Isaiah 55:6; Deut. 4:29). Jesus even said that if we seek we shall find (cf. Matt. 7:7). God is the great Promise Keeper and is no man’s debtor, but will honor His Word. But He desires faith and not to force Himself on people. Faith pleases God (cf. Heb. 11:3). He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (cf. Heb. 11:6).

But God hides Himself (cf. Psalm 13:1; Isaiah 45:15). As for God’s whereabouts, His home and throne is in the heavens (cf. Psalm 115:3). “ But the LORD is in his holy temple…” (cf. Hab. 2:20). However, even the highest heavens cannot contain Him (cf. 1 Kings 8:27). He is not only a God at hand but afar off, for He fills the heavens (cf. Jer. 23:23–24). We cannot hide from Him (cf. Jer. 23:24; Psalm 139:7–8). His omnipresence or ubiquity means He is everywhere at one time fully (in all his deity or called His immensity).

Blaise Pascal was a Christian scholar, mathematician, theologian, scientist, philosopher who said, “What can be seen is not the manifest presence of God, nor His absence, but the presence of a hidden God.” Note that God is not playing a cosmic game of hide and seek but desires to be looked for. However, when we are saved we are found by Him: “I was lost but now am found.” “I was found by those who weren’t looking for Me,” (cf. Isaiah 61:1).

NB: Sincerity matters, but it isn’t everything; you can be sincerely wrong.