Who's at Work?

I don't know if the book is any good but I love this title: "I Can't See God because I'm in the Way."

There is so much truth in that statement that I want you to read it again.

...Got it? Let's proceed.

The 2nd commandment says that we should not make for ourselves any graven image. If you look at the make-up of that verse it basically tells us to not make God in our image. Most idols in the Bible took on the form of the person creating them. If they believed God to be a certain way they would fashion an idol that expressed their own idea of God. Far too often we do the same thing (we just don't use clay, wood, or stone). God becomes nothing more than what we perceive Him to be.

I love the picture that I used above because many people today only see God as a necessity when they are in need. When things go bad - they call on God. Don't believe me? Think about 9/11. When our nation was attacked many Americans began calling on God. After a few weeks we saw many of those people trickle out of the church. Right now our country is in a financial mess (one that will not be fixed by stimulus programs or health care reform) and you find a large number of people in need looking to God to fix the problem. But I serve a God that works in everyday life. It's a living reality.

"I can't see God because I am in the Way." It's not that God cannot work, but rather that we limit His activity in our life. Either we limit Him or we fail to see where He is at work.

I just got a phone call from one of our church members. He was able to lead someone to Christ at his workplace. This has been an on-going conversation throughout the week. However, today he was able to help this young man understand the need for salvation. One of the things that God did was to continually shut down a piece of equipment. God kept shutting it down so this man could hear truth. In some people's lives God isn't at work in this (or at least they don't recognize it). Today someone was born into the kingdom of God because a distraction was removed. As long as the machine operated he had to continue working. God had other plans.

Instead of limiting God to our finite minds why don't we simply believe that He is still the same God as we read about in His word? Why not believe that He is the God of miracles, of providence, of healing, of salvation to all who call on Him, etc. Maybe we just need to get out of the way!

Here's to hoping that you will remove yourself from the equation and let God be God.