I’m pretty sure everyone has been asked this question at some point in their lifetime. “Who are you?” Such a frequently asked question that can seem so simple. A lot of us could answer that question with our name, age, where we’re from, and maybe another menial description. For example, I could answer that question like this:
“I am Holly Williamson, a 20-year-old Christian college
student from North Carolina.”
That’s who I am, right? Right. Now, of course, there’s more to me than just that, but in general, that is me. We, as humans, can sum up who we are in one decent sentence.
Lately, I’ve had the urge to ask the question, “Who are You, God?” Undoubtedly, I am a Christian in an intimate relationship with God. As a believer, in my ongoing process of sanctification, I aspire to know more and more about this awesome God I serve. Because of this yearning to know Him, I decided to research who my God is, mainly using His Word. To many of you, what you’re about to read will be a reiteration; to some, possibly a surprise, more knowledge, and maybe even folly. But what I am really proposing is that my research on who God is could give someone hope for tomorrow, peace in the midst of trouble, or even as it did for me, cause a revival in your heart and a newfound love for the one, true God.
My research is still unfolding seeing as I will not know God in His fullness until I stand before Him soon (and very soon). Here’s my challenge: read each of the names of God listed below out loud and examine your life for instances of His presence. Now brace yourself to read a precise answer to my proposed question, “God, who are You - To me, to others, to everything?”
El means “to be” and also “God” – mighty, strong, and prominent.
El Shaddai means “God Almighty,” “God All-Sufficient.”
El Elyon means “Most High” (Psalm 78:35).
El-Olam means “Everlasting God.”
Adonai means “Master,” “Lord,” “Father.”
Jehovah means “The Self-Existent One,” “I AM WHO I AM!”
Jehovah-Jireh means “The Lord will Provide” (Genesis 22:14).
Jehovah-Nissi means “The Lord is our Banner” – to lift up (Exodus 17:15).
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh means “The Lord who Sanctifies” – to make whole, set apart for holiness.
Jehovah-Rohi means “Shepherd” (Psalm 23).
Jehovah-Shalom means “The Lord our Peace” (Judges 6:24). Shalom refers to peace resulting from being in right relationship with God.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu means “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).
Kadosh means “Holy One” (Isaiah 40:25). – “To whom will you compare me?”
Palet means “Deliverer” (Psalm 18:2).
Kanna means “Jealous One” (Exodus 20:5).
Yesha means “Savior.”
Gaol means “Redeemer.”
Magen means “Shield” (Psalm 3:3).
Eyaluth means “Strength” (Psalm 22:19).
And my all time favorite: Jehovah-Shammah means “The Lord is There” (Ezekiel 48:35).
I can think of countless instances God has been these things to me in my life and I’m sure you can too. Y’all, those are just my favorites. The list goes on and on. It brings me to tears to read, know, and experience all He has been for me, is being for me, and will continue to be for me. Words can’t even describe who He is to me and my mind can’t begin to fathom the fullness of Him. I am so undeserving of everything He is, but in His grace and mercy He chose to bestow His best on me. Yet many of us, including me, tend to downsize Him, leaving us living a life without experiencing Him as He longs for us to. You see, now I get it. I spend my life filling it up with ‘just enough’ God, yet trying to attain more than enough worldly passions. I’m not referring to attaining wealth or possessions, but my longing to attain more happiness, control, joy, satisfaction, peace, success, favor, etc. in worldly passions. It’s never enough. How foolish are we to look to things of this world for fulfillment. Now, all these things aren’t bad, yet God’s Word leads me to believe quite a contrary approach. He is my "more than enough!” He is my happiness, control, peace, joy, satisfaction, success, favor, and so on! Now I can hear some people saying, “Yeah, I already know that.” My next proposal is, ‘Are you living in that knowledge?’ I know I’m not. I feel like this has given me yet a new step to climb in my sanctification process. One of knowing who God is in every part of my life, one of God being my life, one of living my life in such boundless joy that nothing, I mean absolutely NOTHING can bereave me of it. In conclusion, I come to answer two questions:
Who am I?
Who am I?
I am NOTHING living for EVERYTHING.
Who is God?
Who is God?
He is my EVERYTHING!
(So I guess, just like people, you can sum God up in a sentence, but good luck answering the question “What is Everything?” in this lifetime).
.. how all of this compels me to long even more for the day I’ll know Him in His fullness.
