GOD

Hosea 13:6—When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot Me.

I recently received this fascinating fictitious piece from a friend by e-mail. I have modified it in keeping with my belief that God is omnipotent, holy and does not converse lightly with presumptuous people.

One day a group of scientists assembled and decided that by virtue of mankind’s tremendous accomplishments, God was no longer needed. A spokesperson was selected to inform God that they were done with Him. The scientist, not knowing exactly how to reach God, walked into the nearest church and in a loud voice exclaimed, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you. We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things by our own brilliance.”

After a moment of silence, a quiet voice replied, “Very well, let us have a man-making contest.” The somewhat surprised scientist replied, “OK, great! What are the rules of the contest?” The Lord answered, “We will make man just as I once made Adam.” The scientist, somewhat familiar with the Genesis account said, “Sure, no problem.” He walked outside bent over and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. But before he could even straighten, God said, “No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!”

A self-sufficient world mocks the notion of God’s existence and worth. Therefore should it surprise us when a governor used to pinning men with his brawny muscle scoffs as weak any who are religious? As technology improves, and human pride in accomplishment ascends so will the volume of disdain for a Holy Father and His imperfect followers.

The grandiloquence that dismisses God as obsolete ought to rally us to stand up and proclaim His profound relevance. Paul once cried, “I am not ashamed of the gospel . . .”(Romans 1:16) Peter admonished his listeners, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1Peter 3:15).

These are not days to cower behind walls protecting holy huddles. While freedom still exists, we must stand up under the guidance of the powerful Holy Spirit to proclaim in the clear manner of one redeemed, that our God reigns and He is indeed an awesome God. Is it cowardice or a disturbing lack of regard for the call of Christ Who bids us to go and tell, that mutes our voices? Get off the couch, turn off the tube, treat the cancer of complacency and shine your light. The world desperately needs GOD! The surgical miracle He worked in our hearts was not so the angels could marvel but so men and women, boys and girls could fall on their knees, repent and find salvation in the One Who saved us—GOD—the greatest Word our language knows.

Inspiration
God is not an outward gush of sentiment, not a vague abstraction of impersonal good nature: God is a living, intense reality, and until this truth is grasped, the puzzles and the questions are more than can be met.—Oswald Chambers in Christian Disciplines