GOD IS

Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' (Exodus 3:13-14)

Since my son started attending kindergarten, he has begun to copy words from books, church bulletins, and signs, anywhere that he sees them. He can't read and comprehend what he writes yet. He even refers to it as "drawing" letters. Last Sunday night I glanced at the words that he was copying from my open Bible. He had arbitrarily picked out the words "God is" from Romans 2:24. From that nearly blank sheet of paper with the words "God is" come the thoughts for this writing. To be sure, he didn't write it by any supernatural means. It was simply the first thing that caught his eye when he looked on the page for simple and short words to copy. Sometimes, I look far and wide for article material, and sometimes, as now, I find it right under my nose, so here goes.

Are you an atheist? How dare I ask this question, you say? Well, are you? An atheist by definition denies the existence of God. The question we should ask ourselves is whether or not one must loudly and tirelessly deny the existence of God to be an atheist, or is it possible to simply live one's life as if there is no God to prove one's atheism. Before you write me off as having "lost it", please read on. If one need do nothing at all in active obedience to God in order to serve Satan and live in sin, is it possible to show a lack of belief in God by simply doing nothing in active service to Him? God, by definition, is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and the principal object of faith and worship. Again I ask; do you believe that God is? Do you believe in the great "I AM"? Or do you simply believe that He is in a far away place, unaware of your presence in this world?

Many look upon God as a person similar to the boss who has left the office for the day to go golfing. He would never deny his existence, as there is substantial proof that he exists. He communicates with him daily. The structures and machinery of the boss's company are in constant motion around him. Everywhere he looks, he sees evidence that his boss has built a strong business and has entrusted him with the responsibility of helping him to make it greater. He has no reason not to believe that his boss exists, but he does little in his absence to fulfill his wishes. I ask again: do you believe in God? Or is it that you believe that He has left for a time and you can therefore do as you please? Note that "He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being", (Acts 17:27-28).

Men may escape the wrath of their supervisors until retirement from labor in this world. The unfaithful servant will not escape the wrath of God. "But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' (Luke 13:27).

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6). To receive the reward we must seek Him DILIGENTLY. He truly is, and He truly rewards.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).

By David Ramey

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