What God is Like
Psalm 145:8-16
What God is Like
The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
God occupies virtually everyone’s thoughts today. At least one would suppose this to be true from the easy manner with which members of our society invoke His Name. “Oh, God,” has become the epithet of choice for modern people. It is the means by which even those who should know God best register disgust or joy or surprise. We casually speak of Him and we no longer hesitate to openly pray that He would condemn both our fellowman and the inventions which have blessed us in our world. Should a computer malfunction, it is not uncommon to hear a plea that God would condemn the contrivance. Should we be angered, God is often implored to condemn the one who angered us. Of course, for all the light-hearted awareness that the Name of God is on our lips, most of those in our society don’t really know God.
Long years ago a servant of God wrote of people’s failure to know God. In fact, he said that people did not want to know God! Listen to his words.
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
[Romans 3:10-18]
Who, then, is God? What is He like? Why wouldn’t people want to know Him? Perhaps the reason many don’t seek God is that they have accepted a caricature of God. Who wants to know a cosmic bully? Who would want to know a God so remote that He was unconcerned for our welfare or a God so powerless that He was unable to ensure that good prevailed in our lives? Again, maybe the point is that people do know what God is like and they are fearful that if they acknowledge Him He will expose them.
If we are to know God, let’s admit that we can only know Him through His own self-revelation. If it were possible to know God through our own efforts, then we would be at least as great as God. On the other hand, if God wishes to be known, then we are dependent upon Him to inform us of His nature and of His character. Of course, that is precisely what God has done through the written Word of God. Here in the book is a portrait of God. I invite your careful attention as together we examine what God is like.
The Face of God — Gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love… good to all. When you think of God, who do you see? What is your vision of God? If you are focused exclusively on yourself and on your own self-interests, God must seem distant at best. If that is how you think of God your thoughts are in the context of a threat. Among the reflections of a man who had witnessed the judgement of God was this gem.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
[Lamentations 3:22,23]
The best of us are wicked when compared to the perfect standard of God’s character. Perhaps we have never killed anyone, but can we say that we have never been angry without reason? Perhaps we have never committed adultery nor even engaged in extramarital sexual affairs, but is it true that we have never permitted our mind to linger overly long on the delicious thought of what life would be if only that certain someone were ours? Perhaps we have never stolen from another, but have we not longed to possess what another has? Throughout the Word of God the perfect standard is set, and none of us has ever achieved, much less maintained, that perfection.
Our anger flares and we are reminded by the Master that our unrighteous anger ascends before God as though it were the sin of murder. You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell [Matthew 5:21,22].
Our passions stir and we are reminded by the words of Jesus that such lingering, longing, lustful looks lead to adultery. You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart [Matthew 5:27,28].
We are unsatisfied with what we have or what we are, but instead of permitting our dissatisfaction to impel us to excel we covet. Of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient [Ephesians 5:5,6].
These are areas of sin tragically common in each of our lives at one time or another. Consider this question and carefully weigh your answer. Are you a sinner because you sin? Or do you sin because you are a sinner? Of course, we sin because we are sinners before God. Despite our sinful nature God does not destroy us, but instead He shows us mercy and kindness and reveals His grace to us. This is the message of life which churches deliver not only to their communities, but also to the whole of mankind. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Our God is good to all.
The evidence that this is true is witnessed in the fact that God does not immediately judge us because we are sinful, but instead He provides a means by which sin may both be forgiven and sin’s penalty set aside. Were withholding immediate judgement all that God did it would be evidence of His gracious character, but He actively pursues us and calls us to life, all the while showering us with gifts.
No one is a Christian because they are born such. The Bible is very clear in presenting the truth that we must be born from above into the Kingdom of God. No one is a Christian because they go to church or because they are a member of a church. Living in a garage does not make you a Mercedes Benz and being born in a bagel factory does not make you Jewish. Just so, being born to Christian parents or being born in Canada does not make one Christian, for God has no grandchildren. Instead, we learn that God loves us and ardently pursues us with His offer of life.
There is a reason why this new life is spoken of as eternal life. Whenever we hear that term we think in a temporal sense. How can eternity be bounded? There are no limits on eternity; it is infinite just as God who dwells in eternity is infinite. The term eternal life is used to make us think in terms of quality of life. Eternal life is a new quality of life. We receive here and now heavenly benefits which this world cannot give.
Whereas before being born into God’s family we were convinced that happiness is the summun bonum of our life, when we were born into God’s family we discovered joy. We discovered that happiness is always just beyond our reach, but that never deterred us from the pursuit of happiness. Nevertheless, happiness always proved to be ephemeral, effervescent, transient, a will-‘o-the-wisp. Joy is a different commodity altogether, however. Joy, which only God can give to an individual, is settled and permanent. Jesus spoke of His joy in such positive terms. To His disciples Jesus said, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete [John 15:9-11].
Jesus was preparing His disciples for His crucifixion. Those men were uncomprehending, and so they were struggling with Jesus’ words warning that He would shortly be crucified, only to rise from the dead. He confronted their fears and their confusion by pointing them to the heritage which belongs to the people of God. Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me”? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete [John 16:19-24].
If we speak of joy as a gift to those who know God, what then shall we say of peace, which is also His gift? Peace is not some catatonic state in the midst of trouble, but it is a condition in which the one possessing peace is enabled to function in the midst of a chaotic world, confident that God is in control. Again, this is the promise of Christ the Lord to His disciples. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid [John 14:27]. Again Jesus promised His disciples, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world [John 16:33].
Christians are the recipients of rich gifts, gifts that God delights to shower on His people—those who will receive His gifts. Among those gifts God delights to give are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control [Galatians 5:22,23]. In other words, these characteristics which are so familiar to those who walk in the Spirit are the very gifts of God to all who are born into His family. This is what God is like. This is the face of God toward mankind, a face which is turned toward us to seek our good and His glory.
The Reflection of God — The story is told of a kind Canadian soldier on occupation duty in Germany following the horrible days of the Second World War. The shops were only beginning to again have consumer goods available, though few of the German people then had the means to purchase those goods. That soldier was walking down the streets of the city in which he was posted and noticed a little boy looking in a window of a shop. The little lad was virtually immobilised, seemingly transfixed by what he saw in that window.
Perhaps the child had a dim memory of a happier time when luxuries such as those displayed in a meagre array in the window were available occasionally. Stepping closer that soldier peered carefully over the child’s head to see what he was looking at so intently. He saw that the lad was looking into a confectionery, and though the sweets displayed were few they must have seemed as a dream to that little boy.
Though mere days before the child was part of an enemy nation and perhaps taught to hate the Allied soldiers, that Canadian soldier was moved with compassion. Without speaking he went inside, purchased a bag of the sweets and paid with the occupation script which was issued to the troops. Stepping again into the light of day he bent down to the child and offered him the bag. The child hesitated and looked at the soldier with big eyes that seemed almost to plead for assurance that this was no dream. That big-hearted soldier simply reached out with his hand and placed the bag in the hand of the little boy. Then standing up he began again to stride purposefully down the street.
Suddenly he heard a childish voice behind him calling out to him. The child was running toward him. When that Canadian soldier stopped the child ran up to him and with wonder in his eyes asked, “Mister, are you Jesus?”
I’m not good, and you are not good; but when we permit ourselves to do good we reflect God. We have opportunity to relieve hurt and pain, to soothe grieving hearts and to give solace to those who sorrow. When we permit ourselves to be seized with the pain of others and seek to relieve that pain we reveal something of the character of God. Our goodness does not commend us to God, but if we are those who have known the goodness of God, that goodness becomes for us quite natural. That which is supernatural becomes natural. That which is an effort in the flesh becomes second nature in the Spirit.
There is a statement concerning this truth in the encyclical which we know as the Book of Ephesians. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do [Ephesians 2:8-10]. I speak the truth in love to all who name the Name of Jesus, warning you that if you have no deeds it is evidence that you do not know the Father of compassion. I have made clear in previous messages that we do not do the deeds in order to create faith, but because we have faith in the Risen Son of God we will do the deeds. This is our divine appointment and this is what God expects of us.
In Paul’s letter to the Church at Colosse is an admonition which we need to hear. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity [Colossians 3:12-14]. Only as we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience can we expect the peace of God to reign in our hearts. This, then, is the mark of the Faith. We do not demonstrate compassion, kindness, humility and so forth in order to be a people of God, but because we are a people of God we will display these characteristics. This is what distinguishes us from the pagans.
To all who this day claim that Jesus is Lord and that they worship the true and living God, these words from the First Epistle of John serve to pointedly challenge us. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything [1 John 3:16-20].
We recognise that the agencies represented here this morning are not specifically Christian, yet they should elicit the support of Christians in pursuing their goals. We are not condoning drug abuse nor homosexual promiscuity by showing compassion toward those who suffer the ravages of AIDS. When we care for the physical needs of hurting people we are showing fellow humans who suffer that God loves them and that He will receive them, just as He received us when we were sinners. When we encourage the Toy Lending Library or the Jasper Children’s Centre we are saying that God loves little children and that as those who are called by His Name we also seek their welfare. When we honour the seniors of our community, presenting services to those confined to the extended care ward of our hospital; we honour God who gives length of days.
Dr. D. James Kennedy, together with Jerry Newcombe, authored a book entitled What if Jesus had Never Been Born?[1] The authors carefully document the impact of the Christian Faith. Our view of man with all its ramifications result from the Christian Faith. Services of compassion and mercy, universities and the prevailing economic view of this day are the result of Christianity’s influence. Even our western democratic systems result from the expression of Christ among His people. A changed people express God’s love, but an unchanged people care only for themselves.
I beg your indulgence for a moment to expand on this forgotten issue. Contemporary anthropological views have their roots in a Christian worldview. Wilberforce was driven by evangelical convictions to combat slavery within the British Empire. Modern concepts of equality before the law were derived directly from the Pentateuch. The prevailing economic views have their roots in the Christian Faith with its insistence upon ownership of property and responsibility which attends that ownership. Public education first arose from Christian parents concerned that their children be equipped to read the Word of God in the vernacular, and I suggest that education may of necessity find itself reverting to that concept of church schools shortly. There would be no Ivy League Schools had there been no churches, nor would the great universities of Europe exist without the church. Hospitals, orphanages and homes for the aged first had their origin as expressions of compassion by God’s people.
Wherever the people of God have reflected the love of God, mercy and compassion have resulted. Wherever self has been exalted, few if any demonstrations of mercy and compassion will ever be seen. I am struck by the fact that no great benevolent movements ever arisen from any Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist cultures. Focused on promoting each individual’s welfare they cannot be concerned for the poor, the weak, the hurting or the helpless. No pagan culture has ever been noted for its benevolent organisations. Within those nations ruled by non-Christian and even by atheistic cultures, there is no history of service organisations providing orphanages, homes for the poor or housing for the homeless, hospitals or universal education. The best that can be said is that the state has adopted such social services in limited measure through necessity and as result of contact with those western cultures which have a heritage of the Faith.
We confess that we who are the church come from very humble roots. We blush to review the apostolic words. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” [1 Corinthians 1:26-31].
There is a distinction which must be made. We who are Christians, who are called by the Name of Christ and confess that He is Lord, are responsible before Him to do those things which honour Him. Obviously, the characteristics which mark God as divine—love, mercy, goodness, gentleness—should mark those who claim to have been born into His family. These marks will be found because of our relationship and not in order to create the relationship. The evidence is that we are to show compassion because of who we are and not in order to become what God would have us be.
The Dark Side of God’s Love — God is slow to anger, which should give us pause for it must mean that God can be angered. Who is welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom? There is a dark side to God’s love that is demonstrated in verse twenty.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
[Psalm 145:20]
I should think it would be to my advantage to know who is considered to be those who love God and who He considers to be wicked. Since this warning contrasts divine anger with the grace and goodness of God, I should imagine that His anger is awful. Should an individual reject the grace of God, should an individual refuse to accept the love of God, should an individual resist the goodness of God, what is left save the dark side of God’s love? What mercy is left when we have spurned divine mercy?
A day nears when grace shall no longer be extended. God’s mercy shall not forever be extended to mankind. Those who live life without regard for God and for His glory must one day face Him to give a reason for their arrogance toward Him. What shall such a one say on that day? It is terrible enough that some who never gave thought to His will should face God. They have no answer and they know they have no answer. Their own arrogance has led them to destroy themselves. Rejecting God’s love and hoping that He would be powerless before their logic they move inexorably toward judgement. However, what of those who were good people as we count goodness? What of people who though trying to be good have nevertheless thought to offer their own goodness? Will God really accept man’s goodness as sufficient?
It is a mark of Christian love if the preacher warns his hearers to now receive God’s mercy and to cease thinking they can present their own goodness as acceptable to God. It is a dark truth which Paul presents as he compiles many Scriptures to picture how man appears before God.
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
[Romans 3:10-18]
There can be no Good News until we have realised the bad news; and the bad news is that we are sinners. Our condition is desperate.
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
[Isaiah 64:6]
Before God we are condemned, powerless, ungodly; we are sinners. Who will rescue us from this sentence of death?
Here is the Good News which we must hear. At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us [Romans 5:6,8]. God reveals grace and love and mercy and compassion. We witness the goodness of God each day and we have each received in greater or lesser measure that goodness. All this is to direct our attention to the greatest evidence of His love, which was in giving His Son to take our punishment. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, died as a sacrifice to take the punishment we so richly deserved. The Word of God says that Jesus tasted death for everyone [cf. Hebrews 2:9].
The wonderful part of the story of God’s love is that though Jesus gave His life in our place, He did not remain in the grave. Jesus, God’s Son, conquered death and raised from the dead that He might be declared with power to be the Son of God [cf. Romans 1:4]. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him [see Acts 2:24] and so He has risen from the dead. Though this is an amazing story, it means nothing to me until I act upon it. Just so, God calls us to act on the knowledge that He has shown His love toward all.
Now God in love calls each individual to accept His love. He promises that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].
This is God’s engagement ceremony. He professes His love to you and demonstrates that His love is so great that He will sacrifice Himself for your welfare. He calls you to respond by receiving His love. Just as you would respond to that special someone who asked you to spend the rest of your life with him or her, so God asks you to accept Him that you may spend forever with Him. This is an invitation which does not begin somewhere in the distant future, but it is a divine invitation to begin to enjoy the presence and the presents of the Living God now.
He offers rich gifts if you will receive His engagement proposal. He offers His beloved one love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If this is somehow insufficient He offers to place within you His very spirit as a pledge of His endowment. You will have immediate access into His presence with the knowledge of your acceptance guaranteed. If this is somehow insufficient to induce you to believe this Good News He promises you Heaven itself. All this, and Heaven too! This is what God is like.
I have spoken to people who are good people. No doubt others have said that you are a good person and you yourself think that there is nothing particularly bad about yourself, but God presents a perfect standard and none of us can measure up. What we cannot do, God does for us. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to Him, but He offers to receive us as we are if we will but humble ourselves and believe Him. Even as we conclude this service today I invite you in the quietness of your heart to speak with God. ”Lord God, I do believe that your Son died because of my sin. I do believe that Jesus has raised from the dead. I do ask Jesus to be Ruler of my life. I do receive your love, God. Amen.”
May God richly bless you with His grace and mercy as He showers you with every good and perfect gift. Amen.
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[1] D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus had Never Been Born?, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Ó 1994