What about it, Dear Reader, have you met this God?

What if we're short-changing ourselves?

I heard recently of a family that went through tremendous hardships. While missionaries overseas, their daughter was killed by a suicide-bomber. Years later their son became an alcoholic and destroyed his life. As far as I know, the parents are still walking faithfully with the Lord despite their intense grief.

What of the many other missionary stories which tell of husbands burying wives and children, mothers burying child after child, children losing both their parents in one fell swoop, and all while trying to share the gospel with a very resistant and closed-off group?

Does your version of the Gospel account for such hardships? Does your view of God allow for such incredible sacrifices?

In America, indeed in much of the West, we are so comfortable. In our Church buildings we have AC or heat based on the season, coffee and cookies to keep us satisfied and awake, and comfortable chairs where we can sit and listen to our Pastor talk about God and the Bible (not too lengthy of course). We then leave for a delicious lunch where we turn our attention to the more important matters, all the while feeling good about ourselves knowing we've done our Christian duty.

When was the last time we met with a God who knocked us off our feet with His majesty, power, and authority?

When was the last time we sat and pondered the call of Jesus 'to carry your cross and follow Me' unsure where He was leading and wondering if we had the heart to go on?

When was the last time we heard a teaching that brought us face to face with how other-than-us God really is and made us wonder how our lives were showing Him?

Do you know this God? This God who can ask a missionary to literally give up everything for Him and yet not see a single convert in return?

Have you heard this Gospel? This Gospel that says time is short, the King is returning to judge the living and the dead, therefore repent, give all you have to Him while there is still time?

Were you taught the Biblical truth that you are not your own? You've been bought with a price, and now all you are belongs to God, and He can do with it what He pleases? He is God.

Do you know of the World to Come where those who live faithful lives here will be rewarded? Wrongs will be righted, justice will flow like a river, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

What about it, Dear Reader, have you met this God?