You are not God

Here is something that we all need to hear: we, you, are not God. You are not, in fact, even close to being God or acting like God. God is a wholly holy other. Even though we know this logically, are there still times when we wonder why we cannot do things like God does? Are there times when we think that God is just a somewhat improved version of who we are?

The book of Leviticus is a tough read, let's be honest. There are cubits and strange woods that would probably make great hardwood floors. So what is the point of reading the blueprint for the tabernacle or how the priests should dress? Here it is: it is to remind us just as it reminded the Israelites that God has high demands. For a people who depended on ceremony to have access to God, there could hardly be enough instruction. God demanded that the people live holy lives so that He, being holy, could approach them. He also wanted them to be different so that He could be glorified.

Sometimes we wander into dangerous territory when we assume that God is just like our buddy who sits on the couch with us. While we should celebrate that Jesus' death allowed us to have ongoing fellowship with God, free from all the ceremony and sacrifice, we should also keep in mind that God remains a holy other. It is difficult to balance the holiness of God with the idea that God wants to know us intimately. I don't know the answer to that, but it bothers me when people begin prayers with "hey big guy." It also bothers me when others begin with "Oh holiest God who maketh the raineth." There is a place for conversation with God and a place for reverence. I think the key is getting our hearts right. If your heartsong is to approach God with a little more reverence then do it out of honest feeling but not out of obligation. If you want to just hang with God, do it out of thanksgiving and truth, not because it sounds trendy.

God is different, but He is also our Creator and our Father. What He seeks is a real relationship with all the honesty that you can muster.