Will the Real God Please Stand Up?
Who is God? What is He like? How can we expect Him to act? These are questions people have been asking for thousands of years. You've probably asked them yourself. The answers you come up with will profoundly affect your relationship with God and the quality of your life.

As I talk to believers around the country, it's clear that many have only vague and often contradictory notions of whom God is. Perhaps you feel that way from time to time. Maybe you've heard at times that God is gentle and kind, and at other times that He's fierce and angry.

Perhaps you've heard someone say that God took their baby from them in order to test them or make them a better person.

If you're confused about who God really is, or if you'd just like to know Him better, I have good news for you today. God tells you exactly who He is and what He's like - in the Bible.

When it comes to information about the nature and character of God, the Bible is the only reliable source on planet earth. Anything that's not based directly on the Bible is little more than some fallible man's opinion.

The Bible has come to us over thousands of years through dozens of men. Yet, it speaks with one voice because it is divinely inspired. Now, on which would you rather base your life, health, wealth and eternal destiny - the infallible Word of God or some fallen man's opinion? I don't know about you but I'm going with the Bible.

Who God Is Not
Have you ever had a casual acquaintance with a person and then, upon getting to know them better, discovered they weren't anything like the person you originally thought they were?

When forming an opinion of someone, it's very easy to be influenced by what other people say about them. I remember one occasion in which I heard several negative reports about a person and I let those reports color my view of them.

Later, when I got to know them, I discovered they were not at all the person I thought they were.

I learned something from that experience. One of the best ways to learn who someone is, is to discover who they are not. And as we search the scriptures, we find a significant number of places in which God reveals Himself by telling us who He isn't.

"God Is Not a Man That He Should Lie..."
One of the most important things that you can ever know about God is found in Numbers 23:19: "God is not a man, that he should lie...."

God cannot and will not lie. Everything He has ever said or ever will say is the truth. That's why you can trust the Bible. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, all scripture is inspired by God (literally, God-breathed). You can stake your life on God's Word being true.

Until you consider the Bible to be absolute truth, you can never really know God. Until you make it the final authority in your life, you will never experience the fullness of life that He wants to bring to you. A full, personal relationship with God begins with recognizing the Bible as a true revelation of who He is and how we relate to Him.

I frequently hear sincere, but misguided Christians say, "Well, Pastor Mac, I believe Jesus was the Son of God, but I don't really believe some of that other stuff. For example, I don't think miracles are for today."

You can't pick and choose what parts of the Bible you're going to believe. When you try, you invalidate the very basis of the faith you profess.

Furthermore, if you believe something that did not originate in the Bible, there's only one other possible source for that concept - the mind of some person. Don't hang your eternal destiny on what some man thinks.

One important difference between Christianity and all other world religions and philosophies is that they invariably originated with a single individual. Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, and L. Ron Hubbard - all of these individuals were the sole source of teaching behind their respective religious movements.

The Bible on the other hand, came by the Holy Spirit through dozens of different writers over the span of thousands of years. And yet the Bible speaks with a single voice, delivers a consistent message and paints a perfect picture of God's plan for man.

The Bible is not the product of man. That's why it must be considered absolute, foundational truth for your life. Until you receive it as such and make it final authority in your life, you will never truly know God. You will never experience the fullness of life He wants to bring you.

Most of us understand the need for truth in the physical or natural realm. No one wants to make decisions that are based on false information. How would you like to cross a bridge designed by an engineer that believed two plus two equals five?

When it comes to natural things, we want to make sure we are basing our decisions on accurate assumptions and truth. We should demand no less when it comes to the eternal things of the spirit.

The only way to do that is to accept the Bible for what it claims to be - a supernaturally written, divinely inspired, 100 percent accurate revelation of God's character and will.

Second Timothy 3:16 says it this way: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God [lit. God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Knowing God begins with believing and accepting His Word as truth. That's easy to do once you understand "God is not a man that He should lie."

"God is not the God of the dead..."
There is probably more confusion and more misunderstanding over this one issue than any other. Across this world, millions of people are walking around convinced that God has brought death into their lives in one form or another.

And yet, Jesus made a clear statement about this matter in Matthew 22:31,32: "(Jesus said)...have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

Many Christians attempt to find comfort and meaning in the face of tragedy by believing that God caused that tragedy to accomplish some higher purpose. That kind of comfort, however, is false and deceptive. Who wants to serve a God that may kill someone you love at any time in order to accomplish His plans?

When Jesus declared, "God is not the God of the dead," He was saying that God doesn't have anything to do with the things that lead to death. Sickness, unchecked by the body's defense mechanisms or medicine, will lead to death. Poverty, unhindered, leads to death. Despair and depression lead to death. And God is not the God of the dead.

Jesus emphatically restates this truth in another familiar passage of scripture: "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10 NASB).

Once again, Jesus declares that God is not involved in things related to death - things like killing, stealing and destroying. God's purpose was revealed in the life of Jesus. He came that we "might have life and have it abundantly." This was demonstrated every day of Jesus' ministry on earth.

Jesus broke up every funeral He ever came across. He healed every person who came to Him for healing. Over and over in scripture we read, "And Jesus healed them all" (Matt. 4:24; Matt. 8:16; Matt. 12:15; Mark 3:10; Acts 5:16).

He fed the hungry and set free those in spiritual bondage. There's a common theme running through everything Jesus did. That theme is life!

Some people have a distorted view of God's sovereignty, which basically says, "God is sovereign, therefore, whatever happens to me in life must be God's will for me."

Just recently I read about a Christian man that starved to death in his pickup in the mountains of Oregon. He got stuck in a snowdrift in a mountain pass and sat in that truck for nine weeks waiting for someone to rescue Him "if it was the Lord's will."

Throughout that time he kept a diary and wrote letters to loved ones. It is clear from those diaries that this man believed God caused Him to get stuck in that snow and that he would get out only if it was God's will.

For more than two months He sat there wondering whether or not it was God's will for Him to live. Finally, he died of starvation.

When someone finally found Him, he was only a 100-yard walk away from clear road he could have used to find help. Only 100 yards of snow and a wrong idea about God stood between this man and life.

Starvation didn't kill that man. His theology did.

It was a theology that said God might bring death or disaster into your life. It's a theology shared by millions of Christians. It's a theology that runs absolutely counter to Jesus' declaration that God is not a God that deals in death.

Communicating that truth to believers is the biggest challenge I face as a teacher of God's Word. Isn't it ironic that the hardest thing I ever have to do is convince people who believe that God sent Jesus to die for them, that He wants good things for them, not bad?

If you want to know who God is, it's vital that you know He is not a God of death.

"God Is Not the Author of Confusion..."
In 1 Corinthians 14:33, we find another important facet of God's nature and character. We find that He's not the originator of chaos and confusion: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...."

The Greek word translated "confusion" in that verse literally means disorder, chaos, tumult or unquietness. These words remind me of the way the Bible describes the state of the world just prior to the six days of creation. We're told the earth was "without form" and was "void."

Those are English translations of Hebrew words that mean very much the same thing as chaos, confusion and disorder. God always comes to bring order out of chaos.

Friend, anything that brings confusion and disorder to your life - anything that robs you of peace - is not of God. God is not the author of confusion.

Does sickness rob you of peace? Of course, it does. Does lack and insufficiency rob you of peace? You bet it does. Does strife and upheaval in your relationships bring chaos and confusion to your life? Yes.

Then, you can know none of those things are from God and that you should resist them with all your might.

No, God is not the author of confusion, but according to the verse we just read, God is the author of peace. The Greek word translated peace in that verse is the word "eirene" and it literally means "to be at rest, prosperity and to be made whole."

In other words, God is not the author of confusion, but He is the author of things that give you rest, prosperity and wholeness in every area of your life.

"God Is Not a Respecter of Persons..."
"But, Mac!" you may be thinking. "If God wants me to have peace and prosperity, why doesn't He author a little more of it in my life? Why do I see other Christians doing better than me? Does God like them better?"

The answer to that question is, "no." As Peter discovered in Acts 10, God does not play favorites: "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons..." (Acts 10:34).

You need to understand this truth. God is not a respecter of persons. That means He treats everyone the same. No matter who you are, you have the same access to God, the same Bible, the same opportunities to use your faith, as anybody else.

God doesn't care what your social standing is. He doesn't care about the color of your skin. Your level of education makes no difference. The mistakes you've made in the past and confessed to God have no bearing on the level to which you can rise. God is not a respecter of persons and you are limited only by your own willingness to get into God's Word, obey His principles, and use your faith.

You don't have to feel threatened or condemned by another believer's success. In fact, when you see God blessing someone else, you should rejoice. Why? Because, God is no respecter of persons and if it's available to them, it's available to you!

What then is the key to getting in on God's blessings? We find it in the very next verse after the one we just read: "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).

If you want God to author life and blessing in your life, it starts with the fear of the Lord. Now, when we talk about "fearing God," it doesn't mean living in terror that God will do something bad to you. Biblical "fear of the Lord" refers to a reverential awe and respect.

Now you can't reverence a God you don't believe in. And you can't believe in a God you don't know. But when you come to know God in all His glory, might and splendor, reverential fear is a natural byproduct.

And getting to know Him also means discovering that He's true to His Word (remember, God is not a man that He should lie). That gives you a confidence that when His Word says you're healed, you're healed! When His Word says all your needs are met, they're met!

The second part of that verse talks about those who "worketh righteousness." That, of course, refers to choosing a lifestyle that is based upon the principles of God's Word. It is adopting the standards God sets forth in His Word.

When you have a healthy reverence from the Lord and mold your life according to the standards of His Word, you can be confident God is going to author a lot of peace, prosperity and wholeness in your life.

"God...Upbraideth Not."
Another common misconception about God is that you should be afraid to ask Him for anything. That anytime you try to claim a promise in His Word, you should approach Him with your tail between your legs or crawl into His presence on your belly like an unworthy worm.

The way many believers think about and approach God reminds me of the Charles Dickens book, "Oliver Twist." "Oliver Twist" is about an orphan boy living under a cruel, harsh taskmaster in a London workhouse. In one scene, we find Oliver daring to ask the master for a second helping of the pitiful, thin soup that the boys were fed.

"P-p-p-p-please sir," Oliver asked with a trembling voice. "M-m-m-may I have some m-m-m-more?" "More?!" the taskmaster roared in rage. If you're familiar with the story, you know that Oliver was punished for daring to ask for anything more than the pathetic little he was given.

Tragically, that's the way many Christians feel when they approach God. They feel that way because they have a concept of God that's not much different from that taskmaster in "Oliver Twist." But according to God's Word, He's not that way at all.

Look, for instance, at James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

What wonderful truths and promises we find in this short verse. First, we're encouraged to ask of God. You're not imposing on God when you ask Him for something that's promised in His Word. He wants you to ask. Next, we're told He gives to all men "liberally." We don't serve a stingy God. Like a good earthly father, He loves to shower His children with good things.

Finally, we're told that He "upbraideth not." To upbraid means, "to rebuke or reprove sharply." When you find a promise in God's Word, like the promise of wisdom, you can be sure that God will welcome your request for it.

When you contemplate taking a request to God, the devil will probably start whispering some things in your ear. He'll remind you of every sin you've committed recently. He'll tell you that you're unworthy to receive anything from God. He'll suggest that God will probably be angry that you would even dare approach Him with a request.

That's when you need to say, "devil, God's Word says He gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, so shut up!"

You might also remind him (and yourself) of Philippians 4:6: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

We're not encouraged to let our requests be made known unto God. We're commanded to do so. And you can do so with confidence when you know that God "upbraideth not."

"God Is Not Mocked..."
"But Mac, I've asked God to heal me and I'm still not healed!" you say. If you've been standing on a particular promise in God's Word, but haven't seen visible results, you need to be aware of another "not" in God's Word.

We find it in Galatians: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.... And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:7-9).

Now, a lot of Christians read this verse and think it's bad news. They think, "Oh my, God's warning us that we'd better behave ourselves or we'll reap some bad things."

In a sense, that's true. Sow bad seed, reap a bad harvest. But for the believer with a heart to serve God and do His will, this verse isn't a dire warning; it's a wonderful promise! It's saying, "If you've sown, hang in there. You have a harvest coming if you don't quit!"

The truth is, the only people I've ever known who genuinely believed God for something and didn't receive it are those who have quit before their "due season" arrived. How long is your due season? I wish I could tell you. For some it's only a matter of days. Others stand for months or even years before they see the manifestation of the promise of God.

The fact remains, however, that if you'll continue to stand in faith, you will reap. How do I know that? Because I know that "God is not mocked." In other words, God will not permit His universal spiritual laws of sowing and reaping to fail. If you'll plant God's Word in your heart and give it good soil that is free from worry and doubt, you will reap a harvest in due season. God will see to it.

Don't get weary in well doing. What is "well doing?" It's doing the Word. Doing the things we're instructed to do in the Bible. The only way the devil can win is to cause you to get weary in obeying God's Word and quit.

If you're standing in faith for financial increase, you're probably going to have the opportunity to get weary of tithing and giving. But if you'll not get weary in "doing" this part of the Word, you can be assured your due season will come.

"I am the Lord; I Change Not."
There is a lot you can learn about God by knowing who He isn't. Thus far we've discovered that:

• "He is not a man, that He should lie." (Num. 23:19)
• "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matt. 22:31,32)
• "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." (1 Cor. 14:33)
• "God is not a respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34)
• "God upbraideth not." (James 1:5)
• "God is not mocked." (Gal. 6:7)

With all that in mind, there is one more "not" you need to know about God. It is vital that you know He does not change. He's "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8). In Him is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

That means you can count on all those other "nots" to be true tomorrow, the next day and the day after that. God said it Himself: "For I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6).

Isn't it nice to know God isn't like you or me in that respect? He never wakes up in a bad mood. He never has an "off" day or gets up on the wrong side of the bed. No matter when you call on Him, you can count on Him to deal with you with compassion, lovingkindness, integrity and faithfulness.

Knowing that will take you a long way toward establishing the kind of relationship that will bring you a lifetime of fulfillment, prosperity and health, and that's just the kind of life He wants you to have.

Source: Who God Is Not: Exploring the Myths About His Nature and His Ways by Mac Hammond
Excerpt permission granted by Living Word International, Inc.