Let me open this exciting new series by asking, what is your view of God? The bible is rich in metaphors for describing the characteristics and qualities of God; these include King, creator, shepherd, judge and so on. Over the period of about 15 articles, I would like to examine these metaphors with the hope of generating a wider and deeper understanding of who God is.
By way of preface, we need to understand that the only way we can know God is through his Son Jesus, who is God in the flesh (John 1:1-2; John 1:18). However, he now lives in heaven ruling the world so it is rather difficult to see God, but the bible is clear that it reveals Jesus to us perfectly, for it was written about and by him (Luke 4:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 3:15-16). So, what does this ancient text have to say about God?
God is likened to as a Father
God is a Trinity – one God, three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)! This is a mysterious claim, which is rather hard to rap your head around but there is ample evidence for this teaching throughout the bible (I will write more on this core doctrine in a future series). Jesus, who is God the Son and the second member of the trinity, can be seen calling God his Father. So, what does this mean for us? I am going to leave the heavy theology of the Trinity to a later date and focus in on God as our Father and what this means for us.
We all have an earthly father. Some of us have a loving and caring father who provided for us, protected us and looked after us very well. Others have had a rather unsavoury experience with their father, whom may have left them at a young age or was abusive. Our earthly fathers, according to the bible, are meant to reflect the love of God to us. God, like a father, perfectly provides for us, disciples us and protects us (Matthew 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13). He loves us without a shadow of a doubt and wants to have a relationship with his children. The safest place for us to live is under the protection and guidance of our Father in Heaven.
Shafted from the family
So, whats gone wrong? I have heard a few heart breaking stories of young kids running from their families. Just last year, I met a 16 year old boy who had left his family because he loved heroin over his parents. He expressed to me that he firmly regretted deciding to run away from his parents rather than giving up his addiction and felt that he could never face his parents again. Tricked by the thrill of drugs, he spent his nights sleeping in internet cafes and youth hostels. See, we have decided to run away from home and as a result, we have all decided to run our own lives apart from our Father in Heaven (God) in the pursuit of the cheap thrill.
I can see in my own life this brokenness and pain. I have run at full speed away from God and as a result, I lived separated from him (Romans 5:12). Additionally, there is so much evidence of this rebellion and brokenness in our world – wars, greed, disease, death, starvation and so on. Here is a sad fact; to have diarrhoea in some African countries is virtually a death sentence! Here in the western world, we have plenty of access to medication to fix the problem easily. Then why is there this issue in Africa? Simple answer is greed! We live in a world that has run away from its father. We are in desperate need of help from God! Surely from this you can see that the world is not the way that it is supposed to be?
The global reconciliation project
With all this mess increasing, God would be justified in leaving us to sort out our own mess. However, like a loving father who loves us dearly, God stepped out of heaven and into human history, lived a perfect life and died a rebels death in our place to rescue us eternal hell (see Ephesians 2:1-10). This all
culminated in Jesus, the God Man (for more please see Christians Believe Part 3, Who was Jesus Part 1 and Part 2). My only hope is for my Father in heaven to intervene in my life, which he does in Jesus.
Jesus, who is God the Son in the flesh, reconciles us to his Father through his death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus tells a parable which describes our situation so beautifully and how our Father responds when we come to Jesus (Luke 15:9-24)!
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
It is time to go home
The bible describes God like a Father who wants to involve himself in our lives. We all have been separated from him by our rebellion, but in Jesus, he seeks to restore our relationship with him. It is now time for you to go home by turning to Jesus and trusting him (Luke 15:21). You will find completion and fulfilment in Jesus, and you will be welcomed in by the loving arms of God (Luke 15:22-24).
Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! (Psalm 3:8)
