June 26, 2024
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I recently came across a story about God that has circulated for some time. It is said to be written by an eight-year-old named Danny Dutton from Chula Vista, California, for his third-grade homework assignment. According to Danny:
“One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.
"He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.
"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.
"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So, you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.
"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.
"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.
"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important. You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.
"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God! Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.
"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.
"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.
"And ... that's why I believe in God."
While I can’t confirm if an eight-year-old third grader named Danny Dutton actually wrote this, it’s clear that whoever did, provides a wonderfully innocent and honest portrayal of God that aligns with much of what we know from Scripture. Sadly, there are other descriptions of God, some from reputed “scholars,” that contradict the God described in the Bible.
In Exodus 3:14, God says to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.” God is God, the Almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, perfectly good Creator of all things, known and unknown, seen and unseen. Our humanity limits us in completely comprehending and fully describing Him. Anselm, the 11th century Archbishop of Canterbury, said “God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.”
Our challenge in knowing and describing God is that, if our conception of God is false, the more devout we are, and the more we live out our lives based on that false conception, the worse it will be for us when we ultimately meet the Lord at the end of our days. "You had much better be an atheist." William Temple, the 20th century Archbishop of Canterbury.
The closest glimpse of God we get is in the Person of Jesus Christ as described in the four Holy Spirit-inspired texts we call the Gospels – Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.
If we want to know God and describe Him as best we can, we must get to know Jesus.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, God is God!
QUESTION
How do you describe God? How do you describe God to your children and to your grandchildren?
PRAYER
Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word and through the life of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to know You and to describe Your infinite greatness and goodness to others, especially to the young hearts in our lives who so desperately need to know You.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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