What if God.....

~Tracy Frederick

It seems so complicated doesn’t it? At least I think we make it that way. Recently I sent a dear sister a text asking for scriptures and some spiritual advice about a topic that I’ve struggled with for a long time.  It seems so complex to me. But, her answer was pretty simple: “ I always just  think of God...He ....”  It was that opening to a short sentence that pointed to “What would He do? How does He deal with this situation?” That makes sense, right? And it is pretty simple. Our Savior said that His followers would know the Father if they knew Him (Matt 11:27; Lk. 10:22, John 7:29 etc.). Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitated the Son  (I Cor. 11:1; 4:16; Phil 3:17; I Thess. 1:6).hummm ...nothing complex about it.  But, as with any good spiritual question, the answers led me to exam things a little deeper. I know that I am to imitate Him in all things, but ....what if He imitated me? So, I started considering......what if God were more like us...?

What if God.... talked about others like we do? .....behind their back? ...complained about others in gossip and slander?

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”  Matthew 12:38 (see also: James 4:11, 12; James 5:7,9; James 5:10; James 3:6)

What if God..... treated others the way we do? What if God played favorites?

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27 (see also: Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:14)

What if God....was as selfish as we are? What if He cared as much about His own comforts as we do?....would He have given His son for us?

“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8  (see also: John 15:13;  Romans 4:25; Romans 5:6; John 3:16; Eph 5:2 ; I John 4:19)

What if God...took us as seriously as we take Him?  Would we be ok with Him “fitting us into His schedule” when it was convenient?  What if He was too busy for us?

 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24   (see also: Gal 1:10; James 4:4)

What if God....... loved us as much as we love Him? I mean...real love- sacrificial, all our heart and  our being willing to give anyone and everyone up for Him....everything and everyone (Matt. 10:37)....yep...that agape love.

“...He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  Hebrews 13:5  –He has never forsaken the faithful.   (see also:  Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 43:2; Ex 13:21; Deut 4:31; Deut. 31:6).

What if God was more like us...would He have given His Son to die for us? 

“For God so loved the world that He gave....” John 3:16. (Romans 8:32; Hebrews 2:9; I John 4:9; Rev 1:5)

These questions are absurd aren’t they? I mean, God is...well...GOD! He isn’t us, and that is the best part- He isn’t selfish like we are.....but He did make us to be His glory didn’t He? ouch....And...didn’t He ask us to love with an agape love? So, are we?  I think we allow ourselves the “out” to be selfish, unkind and unloving by saying...”we aren’t God!”  Or, “He knows I’m not perfect!” I’ve heard people use these kinds of statements as an excuse for bad behavior. But, we cannot deny that  He has given us all that we need to know to be like Him, or at least less like other humans:  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”  II Peter 3:2-4.

Then He not only told us, but He showed us how to do it: ” For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.

When we break it down, it really isn’t so complicated, is it? He took us- selfish, unloving, unkind and without hope and simplified it by offering His unselfish, loving, kind and compassionate Son for us. But, what if God....were like us? Would He have done that? Would He have followed through? Aren’t we glad that He isn’t like us?  Isn’t it time that we weren’t either?