How Big is God? I remember as a child in church people tried to explain the proper view of God to me. I’m thankful and I appreciate all their efforts in trying to establish my proper view of God. Of all the explanations I remember this one the most. ‘God is big enough to create the whole universe and yet small enough to live in my heart.’ Good answer. You probably have heard or given the same explanation.
Things are not the same today. Simply put the United States is in the midst of significant change in their belief about God. Those who identify with Christianity is declining while a number of Americans say they do not have any religious beliefs at all. This response is growing rapidly. A recent Pew Research Center survey of more than 4700 U.S. adults as well as those done by Gallup and Barna share that one-third of U.S. adults believe in a higher power of some kind, but not in God as described in the Bible. They do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force of some sort in the universe. A slim majority of Americans (56%) say they believe in God as described in the Bible. In the same survey one-in-ten said they do not believe in any higher power or spiritual force.
I trust this information does not discourage us but challenges us to fulfill the Great Commission by evangelizing the lost and discipling the believer. With a proper view of God, we can be a part of another one of His dramatic turn arounds. He is the one responsible in opening the Red Sea, manna falling from Heaven, a virgin giving birth and a tomb giving life. The next time you feel the weight of the world try talking to the one who made the world. God is active in the details of our lives and the question is not whether or not God will prevail in these days but whether we will join His team. To fulfill the Great Commission and be a disciple of God, it demands that we have a proper view of God. Our problems are not because they are too big but our view of God is too small.
Our world needs to see God and develop the proper view of Him. As the world around us is struggling with their view of God, we are the hope and the instrument God has chosen to use to fulfill His Great Commission and make disciples. As we worship God, love our neighbors and cherish our families, we become billboards of His message. Gallup says there are four markers of growth that will help us to be the disciples God intended us to be.
- Beliefs: What we believe determines the next marker.
- Practices: What we believe will be in the disciplines of our lives and determine the next marker.
- Attitudes: May Christ be seen in our attitudes. Our practices develop our attitudes and establish the next step.
- Lifestyle: We need a lifestyle of discipleship. One that shows the world a proper view of God.
The deeper we go between our beliefs and lifestyle allows discipleship to become more effective. We say we believe something and yet our lifestyle doesn’t reflect what we say we believe. When our lifestyle begins to reflect what we believe that is when our neighbors, co-workers, family members and the world around us will take note of who God is. Also, before we can truly disciple others and strive to change their view of God, we need to disciple ourselves first and see that what we believe truly plays out in the way we live.
This is when we are able to be true followers of Christ and be His disciple. Remember real discipleship takes time and effort. It can also be painful yet at the same time is very rewarding. Peter Drucker says when he is consulting a leader he asks two leading questions. One is ‘what is your business’ and the second is ‘how’s business.’ I believe our business is to build the Kingdom of God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Allow me to ask, ‘How’s Business’?
What can we do and how can we live to teach the proper view of God? I came up with a few ways and maybe you can think of others.
- Talk about ways the Bible brings you joy.
- Share when God convicts you
- Be transparent
- Be authentic
- Love God yourself
- Prioritize worship
- Talk often about God
- Study and keep learning
- Keep entertainment pure
- Be joyful
- Model honesty and integrity
- Practice Thanksgiving
- Be humble
- Give plenty of grace
I want to ask one final question. How desperate are you to know God? There is an ancient tale from India of a young man who was seeking God. He went to a wise old man for help and asked him how he could find God. The old man took him to a nearby river and they waded out into the deep water. As the water reached just under their chins the old man suddenly seized the young man by the back of the neck and pushed him under the water. He held him under the water until the young man began to flail desperately under the water. If he had held him much longer the young man may have drowned. As the old man let go the young man finally getting his breath asked, ‘What did that have to do with finding God?’ The old wise man kindly asked the young man, ‘What did you want more than anything else when you were under the water?’ After a few moments the young man answered, ‘AIR.” The old man replied, ‘When you want God as much as you wanted air, you will find Him and your view of God is He is the answer to all things.’
I pray we realize that God is the answer to all things and then we will work to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
