Most people—except for “atheists” and “agnostics”—believe in the existences of God.  “Atheists” deny that God exists and “agnostics” doubt that God exists.  For everyone else the issue is not “does God exist” but instead “what is God like?”

Many people have a distorted idea about God’s identity.  Their “fictional” notions about God affect their belief in God.   A.W. Tozer has said, “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.”

Here are some popular misunderstandings about God followed by the biblical truth:

Fiction:   God is distant.

Fact:        God is near!

Fiction:   God watches our actions.

Fact:        God is intimately involved in our lives.

Fiction:   God is anxiously waiting to judge our wrongs.

Fact:        God longs to offer forgiveness to those who turn to him.

Fiction:   God is unapproachable.

Fact:        God is relational!

Each fiction is based in a “half-truth” that doesn’t take the “whole truth” into account.  Yes, God is “wholly other” far beyond our limitations as humanity.  God does indeed see our actions and actually will judge our wrongs.  It is truth that we cannot approach God in our sinful condition on our own.

However, the truth of the good news is that God shows himself to us and has made himself available to us.  God has drawn near to us (Psalm 131:1-10) and desires to be intimately involved in every area of our lives (Matt. 6:25-30).

He does so motivated by his love (1 John 3:1) and offers us the mercy of his gracious forgiveness (1 Tim. 2:4) when we turn to him in confession and surrender.  God desires a personal love relationship with us that is authentic and real.  He wants to be our perfect Father; he wants us to be his children!

What a wonderful truth:  God is our loving Father!

Growing passionate for God,

Scott Corwin, Pastor