Having A True Picture of God

God lives and works today. However, many people don't experience His reality in their lives. Their faith crumbles easily because they don't have a true picture of God in their hearts.

What does it mean to hold a true image of God? In today's meditation by Basilea Schlink, we will find the answer in a look at the life of Moses. I have such a horrible time believing and trusting in God. My faith collapses every time something hard comes along or whenever I have to suffer.

In such times, I just can't believe in the love of God anymore, nor believe that He is a Father for me. I don't know what to do. I know such times from my own personal experience, but one day God helped me in a very special way.

While I was reading the Bible one day, Moses seemed to come alive for me. I read the story of his life with all the painful leadings of God, and I realized that the Bible calls him a friend of God because he has the true picture of God in his heart. That is why his faith, even in the greatest need, never broke down.

He always stood as firmly as a rock, unmovably grounded in God. I don't really understand what you mean by a true picture of God. Can you explain that to me? Can you remember the story in the book of Exodus of the golden calf? Moses had just come down from the mountain, carrying God's great gift to the people of Israel, the Ten Commandments.

Suddenly, Moses saw his people dancing in worship around a golden calf. Moses threw down the tablets in his horror and holy wrath. God's judgment descended upon Israel.

What did Moses do? Moses fell down upon his face in the presence of God with one cry, You are and you will remain a father, a God of love. Even in your anger you will never give up your people nor forsake them. This certainty came from a humble heart.

Moses spent forty years in the desert. There he experienced the holiness of God. He learned that a holy God can't tolerate sin.

Because sin is so poisonous, God has to use very strong and sometimes painful means to purify us. But now Moses' picture of God shines forth. Yes, Moses knew God is holy.

He has to judge our sins. But he is and remains our father, even along difficult ways. What good news! Our faith doesn't have to fall to pieces anymore every time a storm comes or suffering or a difficult leading.

We can be like Moses and hold a precious treasure in our hearts, a true picture of God. This picture is like a strong anchor. God's holiness wants to cleanse us of our sin.

For sin is our greatest unhappiness and misery. As a father of love, he has thought up certain means of discipline for us. But these means are not meant to destroy.

Rather, they are to strengthen and help us. Therefore, every time we are humbled or experience suffering in our lives, we can be full of thanks. For we know that the love of the Father has prepared a wonderful solution, an end to every problem.

I'll sing of God's care and guiding, the way of his own providing, the path through the night with blessings upright. You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org.

If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.