Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it?
In the Bible, we see a lot of Jesus. We see some of the holy spirit. And we see a bit of God in the old testament.
We see evidence of some of God’s character. He embodies justice and mercy.
We see evidence of his love for us. We see evidence of his patience…….especially when we mess up.
But, who is God?
When asked his identity, his name, God has a two word answer.
I am.
A good name identifies someone, a better name tells us a little about them, a great name tells us the central, dominant feature of their character.
I think that God chose his name very carefully. I believe that the most important thing that you can know about God……….is his name.
I am.
In my reading of the Bible, I have, for years skimmed past this point. It always seemed a little odd, a little arcane. And yet, I am coming to understand that this is the most important statement in the Bible…….the most important fact in all of Christianity……….the most important idea in all of creation.
I am.
In point of fact, this name…….these two words……these three letters……..divides humanity into two completely separate and mutually exclusive camps. It divides humanity into two separate and mutually exclusive destinies.
I am……..versus……..God is not.
The entire old testament fleshes out…..I am. The new testament adds a flourish………you are pardonned…..if you accept……I am. The entire point of the Bible is to explain………I am…….to build a bond between I am……..and you.
Secular humanism/Darwin fleshes out……..God is not. Thousands upon thousands of theories, based on observations, layered on more theories attempt to explain why we are here. But, the central tenet, the one rule that overrides all of secular humanism/Darwin……..is this:
THERE IS NO GOD.
Any explanation that includes God, any theory that includes God, is rejected out of hand…….is not even investigated.
In a word……..in the world of secular humanism……….God is simply against the rules.
Some try to split the difference……..to believe in both God and secular humanism/Darwin. This is dishonest and maybe even a bit cowardly. I know, because I tried to do it for decades. I finally realized that the mental gymnastics that this requires is extreme.
The hard truth is this. The choice is binary……..God either is or he isn’t. There is no middle ground. You must chose……..one camp or the other………one destiny or the other. And, like it or not……..ignoring the question, as many of us do……is to decide by default………that God is not.
So, back to the question.
The answer to the question “Who is God?” is in his name.
I am.
God is. This is the most important thing that you need to know in your life……..in this world.
And this answer comes from God himself.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
God, NIV
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus, NIV
“before Abraham was born, I am!”
Jesus, NIV