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The Bible shows us the very nature of God. You can look at it pretty much verse by verse and critically think about what just that one tiny piece of Scripture says about the nature of God. When we do this, we find all kinds of answers; because God is not simple. He is complicated and righteous. He is everything and the Creator of everything.
I think, though, at the root of the nature of God lies His desire to be relational with His creation. From the very beginning when He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve, to Jesus’ life on earth to clear the connection between man and Creator, to the well written ending of mortal existence…a second coming of Christ that will forever allow God and man to live together again. Even the complicated sacrifice system of the Old Testament was a way for people to maintain a relationship with God.
He desires us and pursues us. Even when we don’t desire Him and don’t pursue Him. He speaks to us before we have committed to listening. He tries to get our attention. God wants to be relational.
God does this in all kinds of ways. I’ve seen it happen to others. It’s happened to me. I’ve sat down to coffee and listened to others relay a story of how it has happened to them. He uses people, or circumstances, or disaster, and all kinds of other things. God is not silent. He longs for you. He is jealous for you. He is jealous of all the other things in your life that come first, and He will continue to pursue you until the end. He wants to be relational with you. Really.
And, like a lot of things in life, it comes down to a choice. Will you listen? Will I listen? Are we willing to pay attention?
The youth group is studying the book of Amos right now. As I’ve read it and reread it–trying to get a handle on the text in order to field questions as they crop up–one thing really stood out to me. And that is the communication God laid out before the Israelites.
In Amos, God speaks to His people, and He doesn’t have nice things to say. They are being judged for their ugly, evil ways. For oppressing the poor, greed, worshiping idols, and the like. Sometimes, it’s easy to think that we can continue living however we like, conforming to the ways of a fallen world. But that’s a dangerous way to live. Amos proves it. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, but even they could not escape judgement that held them accountable for their deeds.
But judgement didn’t come out of nowhere. Through the prophet Amos, God lists the ways He tried to get their attention, to stop things before they got out of hand. Famine, drought, drought on one town and rain on another, diseased harvests, bugs, plagues, war, and prophets speaking His words were all ways He tried to get their attention. Opportunities to turn to Him for help, to recognize their need for His grace. Yet, they didn’t listen. It’s so easy for me to be in awe of their deaf ears…but in my own life this happens too!
Now, He says, judgement will come. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. He beckons them to “Seek me and live.” {Reference} He urges them to turn away from pagan gods and return to Him. He calls them to life, back to a relationship with the Living God. He lists their transgressions, they can easily see what needs to be done to remove His wrath. In Revelation, He tells us that He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. {Reference} Much like a parent disciplines a child, not from hatred, but lovingly. Discipline is not a bad thing.
For me, this kind of slap-in-the-face insolence would be enough to send me packing. To break ties and forget about giving any more second chances. Not so with God. He will never stop pursuing us. Ever. That’s pretty incredible. No one is too far gone, no one is beyond the offer of hope. At the end of the book, after listing their awful deeds and sinful heart issues, God tells His people that He will restore them. He will continue to offer them life, love and a relationship with the Most High. Again, from Revelation He says: {image via}
God wants a relationship.
So my questions for you tonight are this: Has He been trying to get your attention lately? And, what will you do about it? Will you listen, or will His call fall on deaf ears?
