For some time now, God has been impressing a strange concept on me. It sounded strange at first, but now I see it clearly. He is more interested in being something to me than in doing anything for me. I loved having God as my Father, my friend, or my provider, and when I asked how I could communicate the idea, God pointed me to Hebrews 11.6. It says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and (that He) is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Ha! We must believe that God is and is a rewarder of all diligent seekers.
Of course, since then, He has shown me more scripture passages to clarify the fact. But God knew I would not move forward without a scriptural anchor. Anybody who claims to speak on behalf of God must ensure everything they say is anchored in the scriptures. So, God quickly showed me where the Bible says God is and is, and for that act, I am grateful. It is now time to share the lesson with you.
What does it mean that God is and is? For an answer, we turn to the intentions of our hearts whenever we pray. If we are honest, when we pray, we are not looking for God as Himself. We are more interested in what He can give us or do for us. That being the case, God had to impress upon me that we should not treat Him as Father Christmas. He wants to be our Father, period.
Why Is It Important that God Is And Is?
Imagine coming to your earthly father and asking for your school fees. You did not greet him, and you failed to thank him for paying the previous tuition. What will he do? He is likely to say, “Good morning, yourself,” as a way of reminding you of the relationship between the two of you. That is why God had to help me pass this message on to you. Relationship. God desires to have a relationship with you and me. That God is and is, was His way of teaching about that relationship.
Is God your Father? Have you felt the joy of adoption into His family, or are you still outside, begging and yelling? The fact that God is and is, is one of the most important promises of God. I can almost hear you wondering if that is what we shall eat. Jesus also heard His disciples wondering if a relationship with Him would fill their stomachs. He might have smiled before responding to them.
He told them their Father already knew what they needed. Jesus next told His disciples not to worry like those outside the heavenly relationship. Those unbelievers ask, “What shall we eat, what shall we drink, and with what clothes shall we be covered?” Again, if we are honest, those are the very issues on our minds when we decide to pray. But if God is and is your Father, He already knows you need food and clothing.
When We Pray
Take the example of the earthly father we used earlier; he knew his son would need his tuition paid. All the child needed to do was acknowledge the relationship by, say, greeting his father. His father, just because, will take it from there and gladly pay his school fees. It is like the prayer Jesus taught us. “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
When we fail to acknowledge God as our father, we do ourselves a lot of harm. It is possible, of course, that many have not truly accepted Jesus into their hearts. They are therefore not a part of the family of God. In that case, they think this idea that God is and is, is nonsense. To them, God gives and does. But our Father is emphasizing that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Please observe that phrase; those who seek Him, not what He can do for them.
Seek God’s Face
Unlike King David, many of us come to God, seeking His hand. We should rather be like David, in Psalm 27:8. “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” That was a man who knew that God is and is. Do I know that? Do you? Moses had to learn, and so God told him, “I Am that I Am.” That is a puzzle to most of us who see God as giving and doing instead of being.
Jesus also repeated the same concept of relationship in reference to His disciples, and, by extension, us. In Mark 3.14, we read, “He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” His primary goal was for His disciples to be with Him. The sending is secondary. It is the same with God the Father. He wants us to be with Him first and foremost. The doing comes later.
Have you seen that God is and is? Is God your Father? Then, stop worrying. He knows what you need even before you ask Him.
Maranatha!
