One of the most revelatory discoveries of life is that day that one comes into the realization that God will be to us whatever we want Him to be. It’s shocking because it is so simple. Yet it is so complex because we all have this egoic button that continues to get pushed wherein we want God in a box and we want others to be in that same box with us.
In the Old Testament God went by names such as Jehovah, the Holy One, the Most High God, Lord God Almighty, and so on. In the New Testament God is a spirit full of truth, mercy, and love. Obviously I am being brief here because the various NAMES of God are unending- infinite. Quite simply it is impossible to name all of the SYNONYMS for God
When I was a child I had various names and descriptions of God. I am no longer a child and as a result I have out away those childish and child-like concepts. The experiences of life and the massive changes in life have altered my VIEW of God. God never changes, but hopefully our young and immature concepts of Him do though I know many “lock-in” on a description of God at an early age and hold on for dear life. It’s as though changing what you once learned is somehow disloyal.
Anyone who has witnessed the massive technological changes in life over the past 10-20 years (remember the typewriter and white-out?) comprehends that we’ve made use of newly discovered digital technology. And as the world has been altered, and broadened, so to has religion- to those who have ears to hear, eyes to SEE: that which we once saw very dimly, we know see more clearly.
We’re sill a long way from 20-20 vision!
Can you grasp the concept that Jesus and the Father were ONE and that the goal of you and I is to realize that for ourselves. When you get done reading this commentary, take some time to meditate on that. WHAT IS THAT? What does that mean what does that look like? I, Ernie, and the Creator of the universe are ONE, which means you and I are ONE as well. How DEEP is this WELL?
How THIRSTY are you?
I agree with you that God remains who He is, yet we see Him as we know Him and need Him. Unless, of course, like Paul, our mind is clouded with the wrong perception and we require a divine encounter to clarify who God is. Occasionally, we are left asking as Paul did, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5) Fortunately, even as Jesus did for Paul, He still illuminates who He really is so we can come into agreement and truly be one with Him.
“Can you grasp the concept that Jesus and the Father were ONE and that the goal of you and I is to realize that for ourselves.”
You’ve said it. That is my goal; to totally realized that concept. At times I think I get it, only to fall behind. The writings of Eckhart Tolle have been so valuable for me to realize these things. Thanks for reminding me. A goal for me this year is more meditation.
I AM…..ONE with God. How different the world would BE if we could but get it. I wonder if there will be a “tipping point” somewhere down the road wherein “enough” not only “get it” but begin to LIVE IT such that even creation applauds us.
People of all cultures espouse a Something greather than themselves. Some refer to It as God…others call It the Christ, etc. We must first acknowledge that there is a Something, so that the journey of life may reveal to us that the Something is no further from us than our own breathing.
Irrespective of the name by which we call It, what is that Something’s nature and function in our lives? The name is really of no importance, unless that name suggests something separate and apart from one’s own being. The Bible reveals the name of God as “I AM”. You don’t get much closer to the Presence that that!
“Who are you, Lord?” is one of the greatest prayers we can pray, because buried within that question lies the secret of all Life and creation.