A strange title! Let me explain. But first here’s a small sample of what God says of Himself:

“I am the LORD, and I do not change...” (Malachi 3:6, NLT)

“… The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of His understanding.” (Isaiah 40:28, NLT)

“The LORD is watching everywhere,

keeping His eye on both the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3, NLT)

“But the LORD is the only true God.

He is the living God and the everlasting King!

The whole earth trembles at His anger.

The nations cannot stand up to His wrath.” (Jeremiah 10:10, NLT)

“O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation’s sin upon the next. You are the great and powerful God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.” (Jeremiah 32:17-19, NLT)

“There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.” (Romans 3:30, NLT)

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)

This small sample of how God describes Himself in His bible covers a lot doesn’t it? Not all of what it says in plain English sits comfortably with the many perceptions humankind has about God though. And so I come to the title “God modification”. As humans we ‘modify’ God to suit our own ideas.

I guess the most extreme example of this is to deny his existence! Then there is the idea that He is a God of love and wouldn’t do harsh things. Perhaps that was the God of the Old Testament and certainly not the New. Then there’s the idea that God is really a three-part entity, a trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. A little research – Wikipedia for example – shows that the idea of a trinity was developed after Bible times. In short – there are a lot of ideas about God that are not supported in what He says about Himself in His book – the bible. 

It seems to me that when humankind modifies God mostly we do so in our own image, to fit our understanding. Because that’s what modifying God is mostly about. He’s told us all we actually need to know without any need on our part to invent anything. 

To know what He says of Himself is a privilege and what He is offering us is truly staggering. Eternal life actively involved in a perfect life. It’s all in His book. The Bible. Reading it could change your life. Permanently!