Many view God as an all powerful judge who is eager to plague us with disease, disaster, and disgrace when we tick him off. A list of do’s and don’ts become our gauge to measure our success in pleasing him. We think if we don’t live up to God’s expectations he will zap our lives with a lightning bolt to shock us into obedience.
Others view God as caring and kind. God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all working together in harmony. God invites us to participate in this loving relationship and know him intimately. Trust and confidence are built by daily walking and talking with him. He desires to be a helper of our joy, not a policeman of our faith. (2 Corinthians 1:24)
How we view God is important in building a personal relationship with him. The foundation for this relationship is laid when we first become Christians. If we turn to God because we are afraid he will burn us in a lake of fire if we don’t, it is like marrying someone just so they won’t kill us. It’s not the kind of foundation a loving relationship can build upon. One lives in constant fear that if God is not pleased, he opens the trap door to hell.
On the other hand, if we embrace God because he sent his only son to live among us (John 1:14), serve us (Mark 10:42-45), and freely die for us (John 3:16, John 10:18), our foundation becomes one of love not fear. We enter into the relationship feeling accepted and wanted. As we come to know God more intimately we realize he has only our best interest in mind. He is for us, not against us.
Is it important to view God as he really is? I think so. How we view God determines our relationship with him. Always remember that God wants only the best for you. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8).
