The Character of God and Lovers of God

Lovers of God - Strong in God
The character of God is a tower of strength, for the lovers of God delight to run into his heart and be exalted on high. Proverbs 18:10 TPT

God’s name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe. Proverbs 18:10 MSG

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

What does this mean? Are we so weak? Are believers needing a crutch in life - a place to hide in times of difficulty? Can't we fight our own battles?

Since I became a Christian in 1973 these are the type of questions I faced directly or indirectly, from those challenging my faith and also my own personal struggles with these questions.

What are the answers and possible Biblical positions on these stinging challenges?

What is behind these questions? What theology forms part of this philosophy?

My first answer relates to the doctrine of God. When we come to Jesus we humble ourselves and acknowledge He is the Divine, our Saviour and the Son of God - God in the flesh and that we are "not God".

We may be wise, knowledgeable, highly intelligent, strong and capable but we are not all-knowing nor are we all powerful - simply put we are "not God" - we are "not gods" - though some new age teaching says we have God in us, suggesting we have no need of the Almighty God.

My second answer is related to the doctrine of man. Though man started off with having a connected, beautiful and loving relationship with God, man rebelled and chose the path of self. The path of sin. This choice created consequences. Sickness, more evil choices, contamination of the rest of humanity - a broken relationship with God and from then on a constant turning to "other gods" - either man-made gods or worship of things that God had made like the stars.

This rebellion continues today and pollutes humanity and is the opposite of humility. This rebellion says "we don't need God".

My third answer is that God never gives up on us and in the case of Paul of Tarsus - was known as Saul - we see God reaching out and restoring the relationship. Paul had been persecuting the early Christians. God met with him and he became a believer and apostle for the cause. When he was persecuted and in prison and God spoke to him, he wrote:

"But he [Christ] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

My fourth answer is about the CALL or "invitation".

As those lost in sin and those already Jesus' People, we are called to humility and surrender of the self. We are called to servanthood. Called to dependence on our Creator to hear his voice, to tap into His power - but never to relinquish our duties and obligations in life.

It's just a matter of "how" we do this. In our own strength and wisdom or with the resources of God. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites us to be "yoked" [connected] to him and so to learn how to live life in a very different way than those disconnected from God.

So we surrender and come to Him every day for wisdom, power, love, faith and hope to help create a better world - builders of the Kingdom of God.