Have you ever been asked why we believe in God? I know I have. It is these people who ridicule and just act very shallow in the "god" they believe in. Jay Adams put it this way in his book, A Theology Of Christian Counseling: "I can't believe in your god because I can understand him, any god I can understand is not greater than I am." So we can really state the fact this way: What is the point of serving a god who is really our equal, not having any divine nature what so ever, that seems to be quite futile in its entirety, does it not?
Isaiah 44:9 says this: "They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may not be ashamed." Because God is a just and Holy God, He saw the shame of Israel's sin and hid His face from them. Our witness is the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom we have eternal life. In Isaiah 44:9-20 he goes on to question what kind of person or people want to make images or gods that serve no purpose. How can a god we understand, that is, have the same understanding, help us through our struggles, or most importantly, save us out of the bondage of sin and death? Only Jesus Christ did that. He ransomed us from the penalty of death that is the end result of sin! Other gods don't even come close to this accomplishment, except to sit still and just look, well, stoned!!!
Isaiah 55:8, 9 says the following: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Here it is, how can we even begin to understand our great and mighty God, for His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. In Psalm 139, David proclaims how God knows his coming in and going out, getting up and lying down, knowing all our ways. Verse six says, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." Therefore, how can other gods who have no Divine Nature, that we can understand, have a higher knowledge if our knowledge is the same because we created them to begin with! Our mighty God is above us. He created the heavens and the Earth and all that is on it, in it, and above it. He spoke it into existence. Can you or I comprehend that, except to understand that God is sovereign? It s too wonderful for me?
Isaiah asks in 44:9-20, if they throw themselves before these images or gods, what will they benefit from it? If they try to manipulate their gods, they too must understand what these gods know. Our God has precious thoughts towards us. He gave His only begotten Son for us. He is always with us; others who serve so-called gods seem to have to take them along. We have our Lord and savior in our heart, mind, and soul. David had a hard time comprehending how God was everywhere he went. David said in Psalm 139:7-10, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand led me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Praise Jesus, for He is with us, even right beside us. Amen!
We serve a God of miracles and a God of action. Other gods will just stare at you and cause nothing but grief. They're not holy, just, all knowing, all present, merciful and loving! I would rather serve a God who is all the above, who is present and is working in His people's lives, changing and molding them into the image of Jesus Christ!
Let's focus on the real deal, the Holy One who redeems, heals, changes and molds and LOVES us and will come back with a mighty shout!
