The God of the Old Testament is presented to us by prophets, judges, kings, conquerors, poets and scribes.
This picture of God is among other things, full of violence, judgment, condemnation and death. A God that believe it or not, sometimes has to be reminded of His own love for the creation, lest He forget it and kill everyone in anger.
This picture of God is presented by writers who unquestionably and perhaps unintentionally projected their own culture, superstitions, traditions, doubts and fears in their attempt at interpreting God’s role in their lives.
Fast-forward over 400 years to the time of Christ and you find a much different representation of God.
A mature representation of God that is less/colored by superstitions and traditions.
A representation worthy of the enlightenment that can only come through growth.
A representation that was over 400 years of societal and cultural changes.
Here we see that God is presented as a Heavenly Father who loved us so much that He made peace with man by sending and offering His only Son for us.
A God who made us heirs and sons of God when we were still the scum of the Earth.
A God who healed every disease and forgave every sin.
A God who never stopped wanting to have a relationship with the creation.
How can we possibly reconcile these two different perspectives on God?
You may never reconcile them entirely, but you can most certainly understand them by placing them in context.
God has not changed, but if you study the Bible from cover to cover, you will find that man’s picture of God has not only changed but matured because of the enlightenment and revelation that the Holy Spirit has given us by Christ Jesus.
What is your picture of God?
Think about it.
Our picture of God should always be maturing and changing as the Spirit reveals Him to us from glory to glory.
– Bishop Joshua Maynard