What picture comes to your mind when you hear the words; world champions _______, celebrity _______, evil _______, power _______, or meek _______? (You fill in the blanks before you read on.) Of course, the image each of us would have will apply to how we think as an individual. It is likely that you have a different sports hero than others and whoever he/she is would pop into your mind. A different image probably comes to your mind when you hear or see the word evil or power. When I read the word meek, what pops into my mind is a very strong and well-trained racehorse. I suspect few would have that image pop into their minds.
What comes to mind when you hear the word God? Some might envision a good old grandfather type who is an easy push-over. That concept of God is there because of something you read, were taught, or deduced from all you heard about Him. For you, He is a being who is supposed to give you whatever you want or need.
The Old Testament character Job had a lofty image of God that came to his mind. But as his pain and accusative friends pressed on him, his emotional and mental image of God melted as in intense heat. This is often what happens to us today! When we become frustrated because God doesn’t do what we pray for and believe to be best, our image of God begins to show stress-cracks.
As the heated discussion between Job and his accusing friends reached its fevered peak, Job’s mental or emotional image of God began to crumble. Finally, God answered Job’s railings. He called Job’s attention to who He was as God. God’s questions forced Job to reconsider God’s awe-inspiring greatness. That encounter with the living God totally changed the image Job had of God. His image of God suddenly took on a new level of admiration. He became deeply humbled and in awe of God and said, I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels too great for me to know. You told me to listen while you spoke and to try to answer your questions. In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. So, I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:3a–6 GNB.
I honestly have wondered just how distorted the image of God in my mind has been. Am I awestruck when I pray, worship or otherwise enter His presence? Or do I pray, talk, or worship with a humanized, mental, and emotional image of Him? I suspect my image of Him changes depending on my circumstances! However, that quickly switches when I redirect my mind and emotions towards God’s work in the starry universe, capacity to know, to have a unique purpose, and to communicate with each person differently. He even answers each person’s prayers according to what fits with His purpose for that individual, not according to the person’s naïve requests.
The sin-nature within each of us incessantly drags us back to seeing and thinking as Job. We can use all the theologically correct, poetically beautiful words we can create, but without the awe-factor of God glowing in what we say and do, our fine words or thoughts are nothing more than like Job’s rantings. Reconsider what your recent image of God has been. Would an encounter with God like Job had, change much about that image? What would you need to do to position yourself to experience a fresh encounter with a living God?