Psalm 84:2
We find it evidently true that God, the Infinite/Personal God, whom we so joyfully serve and celebrate has no trace of decay or death at work in Himself. It remains our solid conviction that one cannot claim to know Him and be dead. Therefore, this cannot be a dead church. A dead Church of God is an oxymoron – a contradiction of terms.
The Word of God is crystal clear. Jesus informs our theology by pointedly reminding us that “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living . . .” (Mark 12:27). If your church is dead and dry, formal and mechanical, maybe you need to find another name for it!
It is clearly indicated from Scripture, anywhere God is, there is life, power, energy, vitality, movement, revival, renewal and resurrection. Something extraordinary happens. Anywhere He chooses to manifest Himself, the miraculous and the extraordinary transpire.
May we repeat it again for emphasis, there is no trace of decay or death at work in Him. Without fail, every time we come together in His name the place ought to pulsate with life and energy. We ought to feel and know something stirring, something moving, something shifting. We rejoice in the fact that the very presence and power of the Living God is in our midst. The very source of life has deliberately chosen to tabernacle with us. How glorious it is when He is allowed to invade and transcend our private space. No one can transform the private landscape of our lives like this living God. No wonder the Psalmist David declares with deep passion “My whole being cries out in joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2).
In the Scriptures, this God that we speak about today, is not only living but He is also revealed as the source of all life. In our lives – He is tirelessly at work. John asserts “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). He is presented as unfailingly alert and aware. Not only was He most active in the beginning of time (Genesis 1:1-3), but now in these last days He is also disclosed as just as active – from every here to every there, from now to every then, in every segment of our church and lives. He is still so very active and alive in all of our transactions and operations. He is not passive. Never Passive! Even now He is working things out for us – forever working on our behalf. It is against His nature to leave us powerless, stranded and abandoned.
He is described by the scholars as the Unmoved Mover, The Prime Mover, the Unchanging Source of Change, The Originative Change Agent, The first Immutable, the Incomparable One, but we simply know Him today as the Living God. For all that He has so graciously done for us, we enthusiastically respond with an anthem of praise! We joyfully, rapturously, vigorously celebrate Him! We serenade Him with newly composed rhapsodies and with thanksgiving and the voice of melody. With every breath we take, we humbly give praise to the Living God! According to the Psalmist “. . .My heart and flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2).
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
