NO ONE LIKE GOD

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (A.W.Tozer).

What comes into your mind when you think about God? I am afraid that many of us try to shape God in our image. We take human attributes and raise them to a superior level—which is what people have done from antiquity in pagan worship. That is what the Bible calls idolatry.

While we are made in God’s image, to turn that on its head and try to make God in our image is to first of all degrade God and then likewise ourselves, for we become like that which we worship. Listen to these words,

4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. (Psalm 115:4-8, emphasis added)

So, if God isn’t just a highly exalted man, how are we to think of Him?

It is hard to describe God, because He is indescribable. There is no one like God. He defies explanation. It is impossible to fully know Him. It is the height of arrogance to suppose that we can fully comprehend all that an infinite Being is—someone so “other than” we are—so far above and beyond. But, we are to think of Him, and think of Him as He truly is, for in so doing our thoughts are elevated and we become more like Him. Worship is our response to our thoughts of God.

For eleven chapters, Paul has presented us the most comprehensive and systematic theology to be found in the New Testament. In today’s church we want to give doctrine a wink and leap to the practical—doing stuff. We don’t meditate on truth, and because we don’t think deeply, our work for God, rather ends up in self-glory and has no eternal value and spiritual power. In contrast, when we are gripped with God’s glory, we see Him—even though as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, it is through a dark glass—and the spirit of worship is first kindled in us and then follows work! Don’t jump into Romans 12 and the following chapters of practical application, until you first are grounded in doctrinal education, with the pivot point being worshipful adoration.

Here’s where theology becomes doxology! Now by doxology we don’t just mean the hymn that begins, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” as wonderful as that doxology is. The Greek word for glory is doxa and combined with logos meaning “word” you have the term doxology, defined as speaking of God’s glory! Paul does that in Romans 11:33-36,

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

This is where theology becomes doxology!