Perhaps it is fear of the unknown or maybe it is just man's ego, but for whatever reason people like to keep God in a box. They want to know exactly what He will and will not do. There has to be a way to explain Him and/or understand Him. They want to be able to see Him or hear Him so that He can be real to them. This attitude is not new, it goes back to Moses and beyond.
Exodus 3:13&14: And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
Moses said that the people would want to know who God was and God said to tell them that He would be whatever He needed to be in the situation. The phrase "I Am That I Am" means that "I will be whatever I need to be". But that is too big for people. They want to know what God looks like, does He have any limitations, where is He? Some feel that if they can't figure Him out then He can't exist.
If people can figure Him out then they can confine Him. If they think that God is in a church building, then they can relax. They know where He is, so be good when you go to church and don't worry about it the rest of the week. If they can just pin Him down, then they can be comfortable. Again, this is not a new concept. In Isaiah, the prophet said that people wanted to make idols in the image of God. They tried but how do you make an idol to represent a God as big as our God?
They wanted a God that could be likened unto something they could understand. Then they could put Him in a room so He could not move and they could go about their lives. God asks Israel who they were going to liken Him to. Is there any being that could hold the Pacific Ocean in one hand and the Atlantic Ocean in the other? Quite an image and that is just one comparison.
If you are willing to accept God for Who He is and not try to put Him in a box, then maybe you will not keep your own life in a box. When it is time to change, you will be more willing to change.
In Acts we read that when Peter was praying, God showed him a vision of unclean animals and told him to rise and eat. Peter said no because it was against his past beliefs. But God showed him three times and Peter started to consider. Peter didn't put God in a box, so this also allowed him to see his own life in a new light.
The Apostle Paul also faced a moment of change when he had to consider that maybe God was bigger than he thought. Paul had persecuted the church in the name of God, because that is what he thought God wanted. When he realized that Christ was the Messiah he was willing to change.
Unfortunately, there were others in Acts who were not as willing as Peter and Paul. James refused to believe that God could be anything other than what he had known from the past. God was in a nice comfortable box and James did not want to let Him out.
Those who try to put God in a box will limit their lives as well. My prayer is that we can see God as the limitless, magnificent God that He is and see ourselves growing more each day.
Copyright (c) 2007 Good News Publications
Diligently I seek you
My mind longs for you
My mind thirsts for you as if I am in a desert without water.
Lord with you I am safe as I have seen your power and your glory in Jesus Christ.
Because your love is better than life
I will sing your praises
I will praise you as long as I live
And your name I will lift up with my hands
My mind is satisfied with your rich wisdom
And with singing lips I will praise you all my life
When I rest I am thoughtful of you and through the night I meditate on your ways.
Because you are my guide through life I rest from the troubles of this world, I trust in you to protect me. Those who come against me will not prevail they will become victims to their own spite and greed.
Lord I will rejoice and praise your name as you are God.
Through Jesus Christ alone is salvation.
Praise be to the Lord my God.
Trusting God
Lord let not the evils of this world worry me.
Do not let me desire the things that cause me to sin.
The things of the world soon fade they are but illusions.
Lord let me trust in you alone and let me do good in your name.
I ask for you to protect my family and me and I know by the asking we will enjoy the safety of your protection.
I will praise you Lord and your are able to give me the desires of your heart.
Let me daily come close to you Jesus in prayer. Let your light shine for me, let others see I belong to you!
Let me be still before you; grant me patience to wait for you.
Let not anger take hold of me. Let me not worry as this leads to sin.
Let my hope be in you as this is is where success is found.
In you alone is peace found.
May I be satisfied with what I have and to be close to you; than that I lust after the things of the world.
For worldly things do not last; but with you is eternity in paradise.
The sinful borrow but do not repay their debts. Your children Lord give generously.
Lord make my steps through life firm and when I stumble I will not fall because you steady me with your hand.
Let me turn from evil and do good.
Lord you love the just and will standby the faithful.
Protect me Lord, give me wisdom. Let my tongue speak only good. Let your ways be in my heart and my walk through life steady.
Lord grant me patience and strengthen me in your ways.
Let me embrace peace.
Salvation come only through you Lord Jesus.
You are my stronghold in times of trouble.
Deliver me from evil and let my refuge be in you my father and my God.
Forgiven for my Sins
From the cross of Calvary your grace calls to me and
deals with my sin,
washes me clean,
renews my spirit,
strengthens my body,
lights a fire within me,
focuses my every thought, utterance and deed and
teaches me of your inexpressible love for me.
How Great Thou Art
Lord without you I am an outcast and lonely
without you I am filled with shame
with you I see my Father-God and friend
without you I hide and tremble in fear
with you I open my mouth in petition and praise
without you I am lost in a consuming fire
with you all is love and my soul is at peace
without you is the gaping blackness of hell and eternal anguish
in Jesus the gates are barred
without you is the horror of failure
with Jesus is the glory of a boundless horizon
without you terror and dismay consume me
with you ever accusation turns into joy and peace
and everything from you is enjoyed with thanksgiving
Praise be to you for your grace and for the gift of Jesus Christ
Both Duke Clarke & Kalisti Juma are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.