We Cannot Conceive of God -- We Must Receive Him

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

I have commented on this verse so that I could repudiate the notion that "our" conception of God is adequate for the spiritual life.

Yet what is God referring to specifically when He declares that His thoughts are not ours? The previous verses shed light on this power truth:

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55: 7)

The revelation that God will forgive all our sins is a truth that no man can come up with, assimilate, or make sense of. Either He believes it or he does not. For fallen man in a fallen world contending with a fallen enemy, mankind cannot comprehend the benevolence of God who will give His own Son and all things with Him (Romans 8: 31-32). Any attempt to conceive of God according to our own understanding inevitably will conjure up a "god" who is like us, one who is vindictive, easily hurt, looking to punish people for the wrong that they do.

We do not need a new set of ideas. We need a new life, and any conception of God outside of the revelation of God's Word will be forever tainted with our fallen nature.

Let's also consider the beginning of Isaiah 55 to get a greater picture of how generous God really is:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

"Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isaiah 55: 1-3)

The Lord invites every one of  us to drink not just water, but the more expensive wine and milk, which we can only receive since it is "without price", that is "priceless." Jesus fulfilled and fulfills this prophecy for us. In John 2, he turned the water into wine. He then shared with the Samaritan woman at the well that He would give her water that would spring up into eternal life (John 4), and He then shared with all who are willing to listen:

"37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7: 37-39)

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive Christ Jesus into us, and all things with Him:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)

All things are freely given from God through Christ. I cannot imagine this with my limited intellect, and neither can anyone else in this world. We must believe the Gospel and receive His grace and righteousness, or we do not.