What God Thinks of Us

While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance . . . 

 - From Acts 17

History's refrain is particularly strong in our times:

"Why would a loving God . . . ?"

The phrase bespeaks a disdainful attitude toward the Almighty. I find, threaded within those words, an actual belief that there is a God.

Like a parent saying to a child: "Why would you do that?" The parent does not ask the question as a proof that his or her child does not exist. In fact, the statement is soaked with evidence that the parent believes, all too well, that the child is a real, physical being. 

Why would God look the other way? Why would He permit evil in the universe? 

What's He thinking?

When a person asks this question, do not think of it as the opening volley of a debate about the existence of God. Rather, view it as a debate about the behavior of God. 

But even then . . . it is more wise not to engage. A person asking this question is at a very private and personal point in their search.

We spend too much time fretting about what people think of God, than of what God thinks about people. And even when we contemplate His thoughts about us, it is always tilted negatively towards people that are not us. Because, you know, I'm okay. You're the one that needs correcting.

God sees us as ignorant. I would say that the majority of our ignorance is that which we cannot help. God's probably not concerned about that. In fact, He probably thrills at watching our growth, as a species, into spiritual enlightenment . . . a journey that goes back thousands of years. 

The ignorance that Paul spoke about, in this sermon, was willful ignorance: thinking there might be a God, but putting ourselves in a position of being smarter than He. 

That's ignorant. It's dumb. 

If there is any chance, in your thinking, that perhaps there is a God, or any kind of superior being . . .shouldn't our smart response to be what we can learn from Him? Shouldn't it not be, to outsmart the Almighty?

Who do you think you are, anyway? Embrace the Creator, seek Him out, learn from Him.