Sadly, many people in today’s world have no real understanding of who God really is. We cannot begin to grow in our Christian life until we at least have the proper view of God. God is not just some great person we can’t know or see. God is the creator of everything. He is Sovereign God, there is no one He has to answer to, No one is more powerful, more knowledgeable, or more wise than He is. When God gave us His Word, the Bible – He gave to us complete instructions on living our lives as Christians, and if we truly want to know Him, we have to read and study what He has given us in the Bible.
The verse above tells us that the “fear” of God is the “Beginning” of wisdom. In other words, we can’t even begin to understand His Word or learn through Him how to walk with Him, until we truly realize how awesome and amazing He is. The word “fear” in this verse doesn’t mean that we are afraid of Him, it means that we understand just Who He is, and why we should seek to know and obey Him. Knowing and obeying God doesn’t come naturally, it takes effort. And most people aren’t willing to put forth the effort it takes, until they realize the real value in knowing Him and walking with Him each day of our lives.
We could spend countless hours talking about Who God is and His character (attributes). However, some of His most important attributes are:
1. God is Holy – In other words, He can be blamed for nothing. He is absolutely perfect in all that He does. “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)
2. God is Righteous – Doing only what is right. Not only is He perfect in all that He does, He is right in all that He does. “The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)
3. God is Sovereign – Highest in power and superior to all others. God is the ruler of ALL. He answers to NO ONE. And He Can do WHATEVER He chooses to do. “…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9).
God is awesome and amazing, and when we see that if we obey Him and love Him, He will provide all of our needs, He will protect us from harm, He will guide our lives, and He will bring us peace and joy even in the most difficult circumstances, we then start to realize “Okay, I see that knowing Him is very valuable!” And then, we have the proper foundation to begin our walk with Him.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?
These are just a few of the many verses in God’s Word that tell us Who He is….
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
(Numbers 23:19)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9)
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love
(Psalm 33:18)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
(Isaiah 40:28)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
(Psalm 68:19-20)
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)
RECOMMENDED READING ABOUT GOD
Knowing God – by J. I. Packer