"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 14:1)
I could close my eyes and say there are no people. Some people close their minds to the abundant proof that there is a God. Most people believe in God. But over the years they have had various attitudes about God and what he is like. God is dead, was a popular theory a few years ago.
Children have a child's attitude about God. Children misunderstand God. Many times adults have small thoughts about God just like children. They imagine Him in many ways.
Some think of God as a policeman. They think of Him as a policeman always saying "don't do this and don't do that." They consider God as an annoying inner voice holding them back. There are some that are in constant fear that God is standing over them, ready to punish them. This is not the way the Bible presents God.
Some people treat God like a policeman because they only go to Him in times of trouble: death, sickness, heartache or sorrow etc.
Others think of God as a parent. They have the same bad attitude toward God that they had toward their parents. They resented their authority. They had little respect for them. They obey out of necessity, to keep from getting punished.
These people have the same attitude toward God. They resent His authority. They have no respect or love for Him. They obey out of necessity they are afraid not to obey, it is not because they love Him. The Word of God teaches that we should obey from a heart of love.
There are those who think of God as an old man, a historical figure who lived a long time ago and does not know anything about our problems on earth today. To them, God and the Bible are out of date. They are old-fashioned. They were good in their day but now they are useless to man.
God is never out of date and so is His Word. Our physical way of life may change but the real needs and trials of life are the same (Heb. 13:8). God treats us the same way He treated the people in the past. He has the same love and saving power for us today. He has not changed in His attitude toward sin. God is not out of date. He is just as real today as He was 2000 years ago.
God is love! Many people feel that since God is good He will not punish mankind. Some imagine that hell is not like we think it is, not all that bad. They reason: how can a God of love and mercy punish anyone by casting them into hell? Many of them come to the conclusion that God would not really do it so therefore they see no reason to be a Christian. Nothing bad will happen to them if they don't, so they think.
The Word of God does tell us that God is love, but it also teaches that He is a just and holy God (Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6).
Some think of God only as a book of rules which He wants us to follow perfectly. After a person begins to live the Christian life for a while he will discover that he will still have sin in his heart and in his life. Therefore some of them get discouraged and give up. They think; "what the use. I can't be perfect and God expects me to be perfect, therefore I'll just quit trying".
God is perfect and since He created us He knows that we are weak and sinful creatures. In the Bible, the word perfect, when used in relation to man, is translated complete. It does not mean without fault (II Tim. 3:17, Matt. 5:48).
A managing director, this is the way some think of God. He controls the universe but is not interested in us as individuals. This is an incorrect idea that some believe and teach.
This belief teaches that God made the world and has left us to ourselves. They believe that God is out there somewhere watching, but He does not pay too much attention to us. These people do not believe God is concerned about what happens on earth. The Word of God teaches that God is interested in every individual on earth (Matt. 10:29-30, Lk. 10:20).
Some think that God should reward or punish us here and now for what we do and if He doesn't do it, they become disappointed and hurt. God's ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-9).
We cannot compare God to what we know of man. We must remember that God is above men and that He is very much interested in him.
What is a correct view of God: He is all powerful, all knowing, He is everywhere, He sees everything, He is always the same, He never changes, He is faithful, He is holy and pure, He is full of mercy and grace and Love.
When we understand and know that God is Love we will love Him (I John 4:19). When we don't obey God it is a sign that we don't understand Him.
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