Personal God

Not so long ago I was with a friend on the way to the gym.
A rain storm had just taken place and left behind was a beautiful Rainbow stretching across

the sky.
The Rainbow certainly reveals to the world the Majesty of God; a Creator who but in place a prism by which would activate colors throughout the sky when the right mixture of moisture and sunlight intertwine.

Perhaps, 'Majesty' is an understatement; yet, this is how we often view God Himself.
While true, for God is majestic and Sovereign, the Rainbow also reveals a very personal side of God as well.
The Rainbow was set in the sky of the earth as the Noahic Covenant; God's personal promise never to destroy the earth or its people with a raging flood again.

You can't get much more personal than an eternal promise not to exact judgment through a particular means.
In this case, God's relationship with humanity would be intact throughout the ages; a reminder set amongst the clouds.

Early on, American church children are taught much of the over-arching majesty, concepts and attributes of God; and these are certainly true.
But what is needed in every day life is something much more personal than an omnipotent, invisible Spirit.
We need a God who is personal AND omnipotent; or at least, we need to realize that He is both simultaneously.

In reading Scripture, if a person seeks not to prove a point or look for anything specific, just simply read Scripture; they would soon find among the great doctrines of the faith, among the accounts of the witnesses from the past, they will find a Person.
And the discovery of God as a Person, one who is unique as any person you may know in life, is an event as memorable as any event in your life.

From this discovery, we find that God feels the emotion of love; as well as the mental state of loving which is required from His people toward those whom are unloveable.
We find in Him a Person who demonstrates His frustration, as well as His joy; thunderous anger can emit from Him, as can enormous delight.
And surprisingly, from One who knows all and sees all from eternity past to eternity future, God even seems stunned by the behavior of His Creation at times.

Maybe, just maybe, if we as Christians treated God as a Person who feels and is capable, instead of a 'thing', we would have a better understanding of the relationship He desires to have with us throughout this life and into eternity with Him.

In the Bible, we find that those who related to God best were the very people who treated God just that way - as a Person. As a friend.
The truth is that God has never been a riddle to be solved, a proposition to be considered or a theological doctrine to be debated; God is a Person who is to be experienced and enjoyed in His fullest.

When humans are upset with God, or angry with Him, rarely do we consider to ask 'why?' Why am I upset with God?
We look at our circumstances and wonder why God hasn't acted; but the emotions we feel toward Him aren't even justified.
You see, oftentimes, when a person is angry/upset with God it is because He didn't do what we thought He should do.

But could it be, the individual didn't understand the Personhood of God?
When we are upset with a friend, do we not usually take time to cool down and later approach them with the issue? And when we do, isn't it true that we often learn of things we didn't know about that influenced their behavior, silence or speech?
And if we have misunderstood God in a similar manner, doesn't stand to reason that the problem is more of a relationship problem rather than a faithfulness problem?

And if we have a relationship problem with God, then we must consider the whole situation we are struggling with from God's point of view.

Every page of Scripture contains God's message to a fallen humanity; in every Word, He is revealing Himself a little more.
So, if there is a problem with our understanding of God or in our relationship with God, and God has already revealed Himself, who are we really upset with?

In life, we relate to most people through roles established through our relationships; our relationship with God is no different.
Yet, with God, sometimes our misconceptions play into our awkwardness with Him; our sin, our mistakes, our errors in life - each of these contribute to an uneasiness in our relationship with Him.
If not reconciled, we grow further away from Him, much like a spouse growing apart from their partner because issues within their heart was never addressed.
But in all our relationships, we do not value the external features nor treasure temporary gifts; instead, we look to the person underneath the externals of life.
The same should also be true in our relationship with God.

When we pray, it is true that we are speaking with the Creator of the entire Universe; One who surpasses all understanding and wisdom of the human mind.
In His presence, it is understandable how easy it is to fall silent.

God's realm is above and beyond our time and space; His thoughts being greater than ours.
As a consequence, this would logically mean that God has literally all the time in the world for each and every person who speaks to Him through His Son and by faith.
For, He is not bound by our limitations of time and space.

Jesus too, adds to the equation of God being personal.

While one cannot get any more personal than dying for you so that you may spend eternity with Him; it is also true that God gave His Son for each person who will believe.
In the incarnation, God came near; He is, after all, Immanuel.

And Jesus Himself even changed how we are to view our relationship with God in changing how we are to pray - closely, intimately, frankly, honestly.
In other words, speak to Him like a friend.

Until next time, go win one for the good guys.