On an adventure..

Most of us have been lost before, either in a shopping mall, along a busy street or just driving around in circles. But there is a good chance that some of us have never been lost overnight in the jungle or forest.

However, where we all do tend to lose our sense of direction at times is in the Christian Life. It seems we have an inherent inclination to wander off the path - to stray off course personally and spiritually. In a culture given to radical extremes, we often trivialise the essential things in life while making icons out of the insignificant ones. In the process, we not only lose our sense of direction, but our perspective as well.

We will usually tend to develop spiritual vertigo, forgetting which end is up. Our vision gets fuzzy, and we end up emphasising all the wrong issues. We take good things and elevate them to a place of unhealthy importance. Because of this, it is crucial that every now and then, we should pause and perform a diagnostic self examination, checking ourselves to see if our perspective and vision on life is still anchored to the right source. Is our vision bullet proof - is it still a 20-20 vision or has it blurred?

Ultimately, God calls us back to this whole aspect of worship. A call to offer up ourselves as living sacrifices, to wear spectacles that see kingdom values for the kingdom of God is of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Its really all about the heart of the worshipper, right? Or at least, its supposed to be. In reality, life is really about knowing God in a personal way. We can't worship God very well if we don't know Him. I discovered that how we view that God in our mind has a whole lot to do with how we will relate to Him. A.W. Tozer wrote"The most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think of God." Counterfeit, bogus perspectives of God need to be exterminated from our thinking. Why is it so important to have a proper view of God? Well, one reason it is important to have a true image of God in our minds is because everything else is simply idolarty to a certain extent.

An inaccurate, distorted picture of God's character and what He is really like unveils itself when our view of God is flawed.

1. Viewing God as a Distant Deity

• A view saying that God is out there somewhere but He really doesn't bother with humanity. You can talk about Him but you just cannot talk to Him.
  

• But Scripture says : God isn't distant at all, but rather He is very extremely near to us. He created you and He's much closer and more accessible to you than you think.

2. Viewing God as the Strict School Teacher

• A view thinking that whenever we start enjoying life, God yells, "Hey cut it out down there. Stop having fun ...Or else.....!!!!" God has a furrowed brow and is always frowning whenever He looks down on us everytime we are having fun.

• But Scripture says : God isn't against having fun at all. He wants us to enjoy and live life to the fullest. He is a God of great joy!

3. Viewing God as the Punishing Policeman

• A view that subtly states that every problem you experience is somehow a direct punishment for a sin you have committed. You can trace every bad circumstance back to some mistake in your life. You are to blame.

• But Scripture says : Though God does discipline his children, He certainly isn't looking for ways to punish us. Instead, He wants to provide a better way for us. In other words, everytime you stub your toe, fall sick at the wrong time or lose your wallet or car keys (!!), it doesn't mean God is getting you back for a sin you committed.

4. Viewing God as the Generous Genie

• A view that assumes that God owes us at least 3 wishes. We just have to know how to rub the magic prayer lamp and say.....In Jesus Name, of course! He is our Santa Clause 365 days a year and there to answer every whim and fancy we ask for.

• But Scripture says: God doesn't exist to serve us, but instead we exist to serve Him. Though He is giving and generous, He doesn't cater to our every wish.

5. Viewing God as the Faceless Face

• A view that thinks God is a strong universal influence of good - power, an entity but not a personal Being. And who God is to one persona may differ from who He is to someone else. He is whoever you want Him to be really. Just name it.

• But Scripture says : God is not an it or a thing or whatever you want Him to be...He is not different things to different people. He is our Creator/Saviour who can be known in a personal way. And He is who He says He is , not who we think He is.

6. Viewing God as the Callous Creator

• A view that says that He really doesn't care about us. It is up to us to solve our problems, struggle through this life and ultimately correct our mistakes and atone for our sins.

• But Scripture says, God cares so much and cared so much to the extent that he made himself nothing and even became one of us, atoning for our sins on the cross.

The image of God we have in our mind right now greatly affects our perception of Him. And our perception of Him radically influences our relationship with Him. For example, if we see God as te Punishing Policeman, we will want to hide when we make a mistake or break a law. If we see god as the Callous Creator, we surely aren't going to bring our hurts and problems to Him. Is this what we really want? Will the situation be any different if we know the importance of having a true image of God?

Yes definitely. Have a proper view on God. Know who He really is and His character. It makes our pursuit clearer. It makes who we pursue a lifelong agenda. It means following hard after that source towards a heavenward destination.

Pull over. Stop for a few minutes, long enough to check the map, long enough to make sure you are on the right path - then get a fresh perspective on your journey before traveling on the road again...

We pursue God because and only because He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to that pursuit and it is by this prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. (A.W.Tozer)

All the time we are pursuing Him, we are already in His hand. "My soul clings to you and follows hard after Thee, Thy right hand upholds me." (Psalm 63:8)