April 28, 2015 – “G” is for G*d

“I believe in G*d the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth.” Apostle’s Creed

“In the beginning, when G*d created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from G*d swept over the face of the waters. Then G*d said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And G*d saw that the light was good; and G*d separated the light from the darkness. G*d called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5

What we know of G*d is very limited. We have the G*d of revelation and the G*d of mystery. The G*d of revelation is those parts of G*d that have been revealed to us in creation, revealed to us in the works of G*d, and revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Everything else we want to know about G*d remains a mystery. Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying “I want to know the mind of G*d. Everything else is just detail.” Believe me, it isn’t only Einstein who would like to know more about G*d, it is all of the martyrs and the believers down the many generations of time. But, would it do us any good to know more about G*d? Who wants to know G*d to his or her complete and fullest sense? If we knew G*d completely, I believe it would allow contempt to creep into our relationships with G*d. It is beneficial to all of us that G*d remain the mystery that G*d remains to be.

In March, I wrote a devotion about Big Foot. I said in that devotion that it is easier “Not” to believe in Big Foot than to believe in Big Foot – because we have so little to base our beliefs, except for sightings by many people over the years. And yet, there are so many people who believe in Big Foot. Big Foot has done nothing – did not create anything, did not work out redemption for anyone – Big Foot is only known through lore. Now translate that understanding to believing in G*d. It is easier not to believe in G*d because G*d has made so little known to humanity. So, it takes faith – (see my devotion from yesterday) – and it takes the work of the Holy Spirit – my devotion for tomorrow.

Just a final note, many ask and wonder why I spell out the name of G*d with an asterisk. Here is my explanation “why”: I decided a few months ago that whenever I spell out the name of G*d I would abbreviate the name either as Gd or G*d out of respect for the name of G*d – like the ancient writers of the Hebrew bible named G*d as YHWH. It is my own devotional exercise for the name of G*d since it is so easy to misuse this name.

Pastor Dave