Where Is Their God?

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and  faithfulness. Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?” [Psalm 115.1-2] 

Because God "so loves the world" (John 3.16), the "nations" matter to Him. 

What also matters is that God's people reveal God to the world. "Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?"

Naturally, we should ask how God's people can show God to the world. However, we should be prepared to face our own shortcomings as we answer that question. And, that is what the rest of Psalm 115 is about...

To those whose awareness has been heightened by the Holy Spirit to recognize the ancient problem of idolatry that has unsurprisingly evolved into much more advanced and deceptive forms today, it will come as no surprise that Psalm 115 addresses the impossibility of revealing God to the world when idols are involved.

God's people MUST remember that God wishes to be revealed to the world, "Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?" but it will not happen in the practice of idolatry. Why?

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

No matter how religious people defend the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology as "gifts from God," they are ALL the disguised products of man's making (shaped by human hands). They are deceptively made to "look like" God's provision (They have mouths... and eyes... They have ears... and noses... They have hands... and feet... and throats...). But, when all is revealed, their underlying motivation is not the well-being and fellowship of mankind (to speak to, see, hear, smell, touch and go with) but instead solely the profit of their shareholders. They claim "humanity" in caring for people in their advertising, but in reality they are lifeless in their genuine care for the well-being of people - their only design is to competitively and perpetually improve their bottom line. 

And this leads us to the real problem... And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. Those who make and those who trust in idols ... have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. 

Those who make and those who trust in idols have no living testimony of God!

So, Why let the nations say, “Where is their God"? Remember, it's only God's people who claim  that debt, insurance, medicine and technology are gifts from God. They must inadvertently do so (in pride) to mask their unbelief - and when they do, the world looks on and says, “Where is their God?" If the people of God need and utilize the products of man's making (shaped by human hands) just the same as the people of the world, then the world's only response could and should be, “Where is their God?"

This will only make sense as God's people first recognize He is a Jealous God and then make absolutely sure they do not provoke that jealousy by even the hint of idolatry. God wants to be clearly set apart as "their God" to His people without ties to manmade idols. He wants no possibility of the watching world saying, "Where is their God?"

This topic is serious regardless how much religion and religious people proudly deny it. It is just as serious today as it was all throughout all the Old Testament. God wants undivided, undiluted faith from His people IN HIM ALONE. To prove this, He entered the earth in the form of the Son of God and declared Himself (with pinpoint definition) as the only Way, Truth and Life (John 14.6). Every word Jesus spoke and every miracle He performed proved God's intent for the world to believe in Him for everything. Yes, everything. And, yes, Jesus went on in John 14 to command His followers to answer the world's question "Where is their God?" with His ongoing likeness in His followers:

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

The lives of Christ-followers should answer the world's question, "Where is their God?" with the answer, "Here He is!" in their every word and action of faith in God ALONE.

Father, the truth of Your Word, Your Son, is being clearly revealed in these last days. May Your people reveal You to the watching and waiting world as we forsake every idol and live the life and works of Christ in every way. So be it.