What Does God Think of Me?

If there’s a God—and there is—we definitely need to know the answer.

Yes, if there’s truly one true-and-living God, Who’s truly omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent—Who’s Perfect, Holy and Just and MUST punish sin (and there is)—then the column’s question is of paramount, eternal importance.

So, if God is the One we find in the Bible. . .not other religions’ holy books or beliefs. . . then there’s no doubt that He HATES sin. . .and if a person doesn’t come to Him the way He prescribes. . .it follows that that person’s sin is already under His Condemnation and Wrath. . . which means he/she are also under that because of their sin (John 3:18-21; Hebrews 9:27).

Now, we must remember that God made mankind the crowning act of creation on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26).  He also made him in “His Image,” which meant that we human beings are the ONLY part of creation that has the ability to think, reason, feel, choose, etc.

And, we are the only ones created for fellowship with God Himself: because Adam was created to rule over the animals and every other part of creation (2:19-20; Psalm 8:4-8).

But, as we know there was a problem: and that problem was Adam and Eve’s ability to choose to obey God or not (Gen. 2:9, 16-17).  And, we know that they willingly chose to disobey 
Him, which opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box of suffering, disease, deformity, decay, division, destruction and death (2:17; 3:6-10; I Corinthians 15:21a, 22a).


That’s why Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden: and that’s why we have epidemics, tornadoes, typhoons, cancer, S.I.D.S., “wars and rumors of war,” hospitals, prisons and cemeteries.

So, back to the question: “What does God think of me??”

And, again, we must look to the Bible for the answer.  The picture of God in the Old Testament is that of a far-off, angry God Who punishes any who try to get close to Him (Exodus 19:9-18; 20:18-21).

Then, it almost seemed He softened a bit and led them to build a Tabernacle (Tent) in the wilderness, surrounded on all four sides by the people’s tents.  But, even then, the high priest was the only one who could enter God’s Holy of Holies on the annual Day of Atonement.

The same was true when Solomon built the temple in 960 B.C., which was destroyed in 586 B.C. and then later rebuilt in 516 B.C.  But, even then, there was a pecking order where only the faithful Jewish men could get close to the Holy Place and Holy of Holies.

But, all that changed when Jesus came: for He brought Heaven down to earth and came to “show us the Father” (John 14:9).  And, when He died on the Cross, the heavy veil (curtain) in the Temple—which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies—was ripped in half from the top to the bottom:

And, from that time until now all those who place their trust in Christ for Salvation and Forgiveness have a standing Invitation to “come boldly to God’s Throne of Grace and Mercy” (Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22).

But, there’s a word of caution here: because the only way to “enter in” is through Jesus’ Blood, which involves Faith and repentance.  We know “whosoever will may come;” however, 
if there’s been no change of heart and mind, then there’s been no true Salvation: and that person’s still under God’s Wrath and coming Judgment (Matthew 3:8; Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-22).

Thankfully, when we’ve truly been saved, our life will be changed because our “Godly sorrow over our continued sinning will lead to repentance that never stops” (II Cor. 7:10).
In other words, when you’re “in Christ” and “Christ is in you,” Jesus’ Blood covers all your sins from His Holy Eyes.  And, when He looks at you, He sees Jesus and says “I am satisfied,” by which we are “accepted and made acceptable” to God (Ephesians 1:6).

Oh, what a Savior!  And, oh, what great Grace and Mercy that gives us what we don’t deserve—while not giving us what we do deserve!

Therefore, live your life for Christ; that way you’ll hear God say “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Welcome Home.  Enter now into My eternal Joy” (Mt. 25:21, 23).
 
        (NOTE:  If you’d like to contact Bro. Tom or receive his daily e-mail devotional, entitled “Morning Manna,” you can write him at 1906 Gen Jackson Place, Bossier City, LA 71114 or e-mail him at pressingon@hotmail.com).