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Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Became a Christian on the 10/03/00 and my life hasn't been the same since... I went to Uganda, China and South Africa on short term mission, spent 4 years at Bristol University, and five working in Kent & London. I'm now enjoying working as a student pastor in Leeds, being married and learning to be a dad!

Friday, February 18, 2005

"I am who I am"

"This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

What does this mean? Moses just asked God for his name because he wanted to have some assurance that the israelites would take what he had to say seriously, and God just said "I am"

Well, I am who I am as well... but its not my name! What kind of a name is that? What is God's identity? I want to offer an answer in part to this question, or at least try to understand the question a little better by asking a few simpler ones myself!

What is a car? How do we define a car? it has wheels (usually around 4) space for people to sit in, and a method of moving them around using some sort of engine. We define a car by understanding what other things come togeather to make it up. Same with a tree, or a fire, or water, or the colour blue, or anything really... even philosophical systems of thought.

What about God? How would we define God? Can we define God? of course not! God is the being from which everything derives its existance. If God were not, then nothing would be. We can know nothing in the absence of the structure created and defined by God. (see prov 9:10)

I can say with 100% certainty that God just is. Everything else is defined in relation to him: logic, matter, spirit, good, love, even being. Nothing can define God, no name can be given to God to give him an identity because he gives definition to the idea of a name!

How can we give God a name then? I would propose that we just say that he is. He is who he is: "I am who I am"

God is beyond comprehesion. Which makes the fact that he allows us to know him all the more flipping awesome! Lets get rid of the boxes we put God in and just worship with awe because we can! :D

"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"!!!! (psalm 8)

Friday, February 04, 2005

Pursuing wisdom...or not?

This is really interesting one... is it good to be wise?!

Jesus said: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." So no... Foolishness is better.

Why would God rejoice that wise and learned people cant know him?!

Was reading some John Piper last night, and i think he had the answer when he was going on about the fact that if we could know God through our wisdom then we would have been able to bridge the gap between man and God, the gap between finite and infinite, between sin and holiness. Why does God not want this?

I'm convinced that God is primarily concerned about his glory. That it is not egotistical, because he would be suffering from false humility if he wasn't! How do we know God and therefore glorify him for who he is? Through the person of the Lord Jesus... and we can know him only as Lord and saviour.

By God providing Jesus' sacrifice as our way of knowing him he provided a perfect insight into his character for us to marvel at and worship. He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him... we are most satisfied in him when we see him as he is. On the cross Jesus revealed to us the character of God in a superb way that will remain unsurpassed. One who is just and merciful, jealous and loving, intimate and transcendent, holy and not unaffected by our sin. Everything ungodly is defeated in the light of the cross...everything finds its fulfilment here.

We look at the cross and see this victory over sin, death, and evil... and marvel at the wisdom and power of God. The Greeks (intellectuals) look at the cross, and see the foolishness of the apparent injustice, lovelessness and separation. The jews are stuck when their messiah is killed because he can no longer lead the physical nation.

This is the secret wisdom that Paul goes on to talk about... the wisdom that is impossible apart from the Spirit. The wisdom that is impossible apart from knowing and fearing God because we recognise our foolishness. In fact the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy on eis understanding. Right at the beginning of proverbs this is outlined at a true understanding of wisdom, the benefits of this wisdom are immense.

Yes - pursuing wisdom is of great value, just make sure you're looking in the right places. True wisdom is found in recognising the position of importance that God holds over the universe, and our place in the jigsaw!