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Which God Should We Trust?

Written By Timothy Fish

Published 7/24/2009

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8

It used to be that people paid more attention to what the Bible says. People would ask what the Bible said about one subject or another. These days, many people don’t bother to read the Bible. Instead, people observe the world and decide what they believe to be right and then assume that the Bible agrees with them, since it is inerrant. I encountered one man recently who has convinced himself that humans are just fallen angels. Had he read the Bible, he would see that this is not true. Or they may decide that the Bible is in error when it doesn’t agree with them. Some people hold the theories of science up as truth and dismiss the Bible when it doesn’t match the latest theories. Some people believe there must be a God, but they question which god they should believe, since they see religion as a matter of “faith” rather than having proof to support it.

Where is the proof of God? Pick up the Holy Bible and you hold it in your hands. Some people will argue that it cannot serve as its own proof. Certainly, we cannot take the Holy Bible at its word until we have proof of its accuracy, but we have it. Read the books of prophecy in the Old Testament and compare them to world history. They are accurate to the finest detail of what they revealed, hundreds of years before the events occurred. Compare what the scriptures say about how our world works that science only later revealed. It is not a work of scientific proof and it may not give scientists the answers they would like to have, but how could the writers have known such things as the fact that the Earth hangs on nothing or that the mountains turn over, if God had not revealed it to them? The Holy Bible is its own proof and sufficient proof to tell us that the Lord is the one and only true and living God. But people today have a hard time accepting this proof because they haven’t read it. Instead, they turn to the natural world, looking for what they can see with their eyes. They long for someone to tell them which is the true God, but they refuse to listen to those who can.

The world itself does reveal God, but how can we know which things reveal God and which do not? If we remove the Bible from the equation, what is there that reveals who he is? To answer that, we must know who God is. For that purpose, I offer seven attributes of God. These are things that are always true of God. If a messenger doesn’t have these characteristics also, he is not of God.

Love

We know that God is love from I John 4:8. Look at the messenger. When someone tells you something, ask whether that person demonstrates love toward his fellow man. It isn’t always easy to tell, but ask yourself whether that person is interested in the wellbeing of other or is interested in the wellbeing of himself. Is he interested in you knowing what is right or is he interested in proving you wrong. What hate doesn’t make what a messenger says false, the messenger cannot be trusted. Look for the messenger who wants you to know the truth because he loves you.

True

God’s words are always true. Put the messenger to the test. Does he tell you things that you can verify to be false? Then don’t trust him when he tells you things that you can’t verify. The desire of the messengers of the true and living God is to speak the truth.

Honest or Honorable

Is the messenger a man of honor? God’s messengers are. Will he hold true to his word? Avoid those messengers who will try to persuade you through hidden agendas and deceit. The messengers of God can afford to be open in their dealings, while others hide behind masks.

Just

God is always just and so are his messengers. His messengers seek justice. Others seek to destroy others, but to protect themselves.

Pure

God doesn’t sin and his messengers avoid sin. We all sin, but God’s messengers flee from it as best they can. Look for a messenger who lives a good life.

Lovely

Though their bodies may be worn and wrinkled with age, look into the face of one of God’s messengers and you will see something lovely. There is a brightness to their eyes that we don’t see in the wicked. There is vigor for life that eludes the lost. Perhaps they are not beautiful by the world’s standards, but they are lovely in a way we can’t describe.

Of Good Report

Talk to the people who know them and you will find that the messengers of God are good people. Other people may not like what they have to say, but they have nothing to say against these people.

There are plenty of people out there who will tell you that they know what is right, but look for those who show love, speak the truth, are honorable, are just, are pure, are lovely and of good report. It is only possible to live such a life by spending time with God, so these people are able to point you to the truth.