We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 2:6-11
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“Do I believe in God? Or do I just believe in my idea of God?”
In some ways, this may be one of the most important questions we could ever ask ourselves. And we probably need to ask it more than once.
After all, if we only believe in our idea of who God is (or who we want Him to be), we would be no better than the atheist or one who believes in a pagan god. Each have invented their own God to worship rather than worshiping the one God who is. And we would be no better.
We know, since the very beginning, we are incredibly susceptible to creating our own gods:
“Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!” —Jeremiah 16:20
There is an equally powerful temptation to take on the gods of those around us:
“Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you” —Deuteronomy 6:14
It is SO easy to fall into the trap and subtle idolatry of worshipping only the God we invented in our head. Or to fall into the temptation of seeing God as defined by the world and people around us.
So how do we know if we have begun worshipping our idea of God rather than the God who truly is? Or how do we keep from falling into this temptation?
I can think of only one way: We spend time in the Word of God seeking out who He is.
I might dare to say, both boldly and humbly, if we are not spending time consistently in the Word of God, being renewed by it, there is a very good chance we have fallen into the great sin of idolatry—worshipping only the God we have created in our minds.
But when we seek Him in the places He has chosen to reveal Himself to us, He is faithful and will reward those who diligently seek Him. Seek daily the true, living God with your entire heart so that your worship may be directed to the One who is.
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Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your unwavering love. Help me to see only you as the one true God, not being swayed by the people and ideas of this world. May I live every day in your word, growing closer to you. Amen.