The Grapevine
Number 118                                                                        
November 24, 2005
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Our Wonderful God and Father
by Jack Northart

There is a phrase that says: "perception is reality."  In other words, what someone perceives something to be, is really the way it is to them. On the surface this phrase seems innocent. However, it is very deceptive because it implies that perception truly IS reality, when in fact it seldom is.

The same holds true when it comes to our God and the things of God. There are so many divergent opinions and conjectures about our Heavenly Father and His true nature that it can be very confusing. This is one reason that there are so many religions and denominations in the world today. There is only one way to separate the genuine truths about God from the counterfeit stories.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.

The English words in this verse "rightly dividing" are one word in the Greek text, orthotomounta, and it literally means "right cutting." Many people know how to cut up the Word of God and make it mean whatever they want it to mean. As workman of God's Word, when we diligently study it, we should be able to rightly cut or rightly divide it.

To truly be able to separate the genuine from the counterfeit, it takes a good understanding of the genuine. In order to get to the genuine, we must rightly divide the Word of God. As we do this, we will all arrive at the same conclusion. We will no longer be wavering back and forth, from one idea to the next.

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

When it comes to the perception that most people have about God, it usually entails all of His judgment and wrath, and His ability to squish us like bugs. They tend to cite certain things going on the world as reasons why God's wrath is now being unleashed. They verify it all by misquoting various verses of scripture. This is nothing more than men's cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Let's take a look at some very clear verses of scripture that define God in a very different light.

Ephesians 2:4-6
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of, and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead by our own shortcomings and sins, He made us alive together to fellowship and be in union with Christ. Furthermore, He gave us the very life of Christ, the same new life with which He quickened him, and He raised us up together with him and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. That is our wonderful Heavenly Father!

This is not a false perception that came about from the mind of man, but rather God Himself, acting completely separate from anything that mankind ever did for Him. He planned eternity with us in mind. He staked it all on His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Christ lived up to the challenge.

Ephesians  1:4,5
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

He chose us. He actually picked us out for Himself as His own in Christ before the foundation of the world that we would be His children, consecrated and set apart for Him, and blameless in His sight, even above reproach. He looked passed the sin, failures and shortcomings because of the accomplishments of His dear Son. He knew that we would one day believe His Word, so He decided to make it a worthwhile decision for us. When we believed regarding Jesus Christ, we hit the jackpot, spiritually speaking! All because it blessed Him to do so..."according to the good pleasure of His will."

Verses 11-12
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

When a wealthy person's last will and testament is read, everyone gathers around to find out how much of an inheritance they received. Our real inheritance has been made known to us now, and it spells out how fantastic this inheritance is. Now it is just a matter of "reading up" on what our inheritance entails in God's Will and Testament!  This inheritance is ours now, and will be more fully revealed throughout all eternity. This is part of the great hope of Christ's return.

I Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

God's abundant mercy gave us this lively hope. Not because we were such wonderful people to begin with, but because we simply believed on Jesus Christ and that God resurrected him from among the dead. This inheritance is beyond the reach of change and decay, and is unfading and reserved in heaven for us.

This is not a false precept, but this is truth and this is our reality. What a wonderful God and Father!