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The God You Cannot Find
"The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead."
-Paul , Acts 17:24-31 NET
The Gospel of Jesus offers a powerful message of universal hope and understanding. It's open to everyone, regardless of background. There are no barriers to entry – no fees, memberships, or waiting lists. God's grace extends freely, unbound by traditions or gatekeepers.
However, many people struggle to find God. This might seem puzzling, considering Paul's emphasis on God's accessibility. The answer lies in Paul's encounter with Athenian philosophers. These brilliant minds spent lifetimes attempting to reason their way into heaven, missing the key. Paul pinpoints their error: they assumed God was like them (see the bolded phrases in the quote).
This misconception persists throughout history. We often search for a God who mirrors ourselves, inevitably coming up short. This can lead us down two paths: rejecting God's existence altogether or crafting a deity in our own image. Ironically, both atheism and polytheism stem from the same mistaken belief.
The God revealed in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures (the Bible) is fundamentally different. He is not bound by human logic or susceptible to our judgments. As Paul points out, God has no need for anything from us. Our actions don't define Him.
Deep within us all lies a desire to connect with our Creator, as Paul affirms in Romans 1. But if we seek a God who shares our thoughts, appearance, and desires, we'll never succeed. Consider the odds: an infinite Creator with boundless knowledge, wisdom, power, and love perfectly aligning with our personal preferences on religion, morality, and ethics? Statistically, it's impossible.
Therefore, if you find a religion that seems comfortable and familiar, offering a God who aligns perfectly with your expectations, be cautious. This might not be the true God; it could be an idol fashioned in humanity's image.
So, what truly sets the God we seek apart from what we instinctively search for? Paul offers valuable insights. Firstly, God can be found. While some believe the difficulty of knowing God makes it impossible, this is untrue. God is available to everyone, regardless of circumstance – "He is not far from each one of us."
Secondly, God's glory isn't found in earthly riches. True glory is revealed through the sacrifice on the cross – a gruesome symbol of suffering and humiliation. This seemingly offensive act highlights the true depth of human sin. Recognizing our sinfulness is crucial – without it, the cross becomes a meaningless obstacle. We must approach the cross with humility and repentance.
Finally, we must commit ourselves to Jesus, the Savior who not only died but rose from the dead. Faith isn't about intangible feelings of forgiveness; it hinges on the reality of the resurrection. The Athenians, upon hearing of the resurrection, rejected it entirely. This concept remains a challenge today. However, faith in the resurrection is essential for the hope of our own resurrection and eternal life.
We have explored a paradox in Christianity: the universality of God's message and the difficulty many have finding Him. People naturally seek a god they can understand, often leading to atheism or creating idols in their own image.
The true God, however, transcends human limitations. He doesn't conform to our expectations or require anything from us. We emphasize key ways to find God. First, God is accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Second, God's glory is revealed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, not through worldly possessions or position. Third, accepting God's forgiveness necessitates recognizing our own sinfulness. Finally, true faith rests on the belief in Jesus' resurrection, a concept often challenged. By understanding these points, we can move beyond our own misconceptions and find the God who offers forgiveness and eternal life.
