The Nature of God

God is astounding. His voice is universal, and his statements of direction are profound. He speaks in ways that are unlike anything we can explain or demonstrate. He is unique, and he lives outside of time, space, and matter. His ways and thoughts are unlike ours and he knows all things. Whatever we may need or desire, he already knows. He invites and yearns for us to call on him and acknowledge him as the Supreme God he is. Then when our hearts and mind are aligned wholeheartedly to him, he will hear us and respond.

Setting your mind on things above means to keep your focus on what is good and right and make a conscious decisions daily to govern your thoughts on the Nature of God. God’s Nature is Holy, loving, faithful, patient, trustworthy, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, all-knowing, all-powerful, gentle, peaceful, orderly, righteous, joyous, justly, and eternal. All things were made through God, so it is through his Holy Nature that we understand life. Since God is the creator of the world, there are things about this world that he wants to reveal to us. In the book of Ephesians Paul says that “God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:9-11). God speaks to all of us and he has a plan for each and every one of us, but it is up to us to accept what he’s telling us to do. In the book of Jeremiah, God spoke to him and told him, “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). This message he spoke to Jeremiah is also for each one of us. God knows the plans he has for us, but it is up to us to accept his plan and live it out. When God speaks to us and gives us instructions, we must follow it. God is good, but we first have to believe that He is good and trust that his plan is better than ours. When we seek God with all our hearts we will find him, and He will listen to our prayers and answer them. Seeking God with all your heart simply means that you are giving all of yourself to God. It’s our heart posture, open and ready, to accept whatever he says cheerfully. Our attitudes have to align with what his thoughts say about us and we have to cultivate within ourselves all things that are spoken to us directly from God.

We are God’s image bearers, so when Paul explains in Colossians 3:2 to set our mind on things above, it’s his call for us to display what we already are. God has called us to reflect his image and likeness on earth, so all that he is, is an unction for us to emulate him. God will never force us to follow him, we have the freedom to choose his plan or not. We are all made in God’s image, but it is ultimately up to us to accept and ambulate who we truly are. Whatever direction we choose will lead to our destination, whether good or bad. In Matthew 8, the writer expresses that, “you can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (Matthew 8:13-14). This gateway is a choice to live life through God’s guidance and direction. Sometimes when God speaks to us and tells us to do certain things, it will be hard, challenging and out of our comfort zone. The changes will feel uncomfortable and we may feel set apart from the world. Living for God will bring on requirements that necessitate boundaries and restrictions from our old way of living. The overarching beauty that this new way of living brings is this miraculous amount of peace and joy that is indescribable. Choosing the narrow path is the right way to go because that way brings forth life and life abundantly. Ultimately, I’ll end with this, “if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).