What People Ignore about God
They avoid vital truths like journalists sometimes neglect historic news
Marketing guru George MacGill attracted a viral audience for a couple of Twitter threads he wrote about the media in late March. The gist of his 16 tweets is that journalists ignore a lot of news that may be historically significant because they’re too busy chasing sensational stories.
Some of MacGill’s examples of neglected news include the poisoning of young people with fentanyl, the boom in homeschooling, the decline in male testosterone levels, and the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdowns. “The point isn't that no media organization hasn't ever covered these topics,” he said. “It's that historians will give these topics greater significance than the media is giving them.”
Many people read the Bible the way journalists cover the news. They gravitate toward the spiritual principles that comfort the soul but rush right past the hard truths.
It’s reassuring, for instance, to dwell on the depth of God’s love. It motivated the Father to sacrifice His own Son in order to give hope to everyone who has ever lived in this wicked world (John 3:16-17) — and while we were still helpless sinners at that (Romans 6:6-11).
God’s love is evident in other encouraging aspects of His character, too. Here are just a few of the many uplifting messages about God from the scriptures:
Grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Mercy: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Patience: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9)
Forgiveness: “But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy; and You did not abandon [Israel].” (Nehemiah 9:17)
It is right and sensible to find hope in these traits of God. He revealed Himself to us through the Word because He wants us to know Him. He wants us to look beyond this world to see the promise of a greater, eternal life in His presence.
But we do ourselves no spiritual favors by focusing exclusively on God’s goodness and ignoring His expectations for us as beneficiaries of that goodness.
Yes, “God is love” (I John 4:8), but His love is conditional. He gives it freely and fully — to those who obey Him and who love each other (I John 5:1-3). Obedience is also a manifestation of our own love for God. “If you love me,” Jesus told His apostles days before He was crucified (John 14:15), “you will keep my commandments.”
God’s grace is, by definition, unmerited favor. No one can do anything to earn it. But God does expect His children to appreciate it and to demonstrate that appreciation. “But like the Holy One who called you,” the apostle Peter wrote, “be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:15-16)
One way to demonstrate holiness is to reflect the character of God. Be as patient with others as He is with all mankind. Patience is an element of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-3) and evidence of our love for each other (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
And if we want to benefit from God’s mercy and forgiveness, we had better be willing to show some ourselves. God will impose harsh judgment on those who aren’t merciful (James 2:13) and will deny forgiveness to those who refuse to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15).
The one truth about God that people ignore most is that He is just, and because He is just, He must impose justice. God paved a pathway to redemption through Christ, but one day He will judge those who refused to travel it.
Embracing the good news of the gospel while ignoring the warnings within it is a recipe for eternal destruction. By all means take comfort in the fact that God is loving, gracious, merciful, patient and forgiving. But don’t deceive yourself into thinking that because He is all of those things, He won’t also judge the world, lest you ignorantly leave yourself in jeopardy.
As Jesus Himself warned: “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23)
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