THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE

For the purpose of being made more user friendly, approachable, and non-offensive, modern Christianity often tries to soften the image of God a bit around the edges. The bible tells us that we are made in God's image, but we sometimes attempt to do the reverse and reinvent Him in ours. This less intimidating, more diplomatic God makes Him more relatable to would-be parishioners, and makes people feel more god-like, in their power to accept or rejct His will. Uncomfortable bible verses which describe God's awesome power are often skipped over, in favor of those which are less controversial and potentially offensive.

The bible tells us that He is not the least bit impressed by any human, regardless of social stature, wealth, power, popularity, or any other personal attribute:

Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

 

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 

Psa 2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

In fact, FEAR of the Lord is said to be the beginning of all wisdom:

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Another practice with some is to portray God as more reactive than proactive, using His foresight solely to choose or reject people, based on whether they first accept or reject Him. In reality, from the most minute details to the largest, absolutely nothing is beyond the control of the God of the bible:

Luk 12:4  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 

Luk 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 

Luk 12:7  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Exo 33:19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 

Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 

Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 

Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 

Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 

Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 

Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 

Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

Deu 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Even the very ability to come to Christ comes about solely by God's power and grace:

Joh 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Joh 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Act 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 

Lastly, God's plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ was devised before the earth was even formed:

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 

We should never resent God's power. We should instead be in awe of it and thankful that such a God would care so much for such undeserving sinners, that He would send His only begotten Son to lay down His life for us on the cross. Jesus paid a debt to God that none of us has the currency to pay. God's mercy and grace are amazing things to behold!