Moses was the first person—as far as we know—to call God “the living God” (Deuteronomy 5:26). This designation placed the Israelites’ God in sharp contrast with the deities of their neighbors.
Crafted out of wood, metal, and stone, those other gods were anything but alive. One hard push or strong wind, and they would topple over! In effect, Moses was saying, “Our God is different! Our God is real! Our God is alive!”
It was this one, true God—the One who is life itself and the source of all physical and spiritual life—who first animated humanity in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:7).
Sin quickly introduced death into God’s perfect world (Romans 6:23). But what chance does sin or death have in the face of the all-powerful living God?
In the person of Jesus, the living God entered our world of death and announced, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, emphasis added).
Jesus also said, “I have come that they [sinful, spiritually dead people] may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Such good news! We can know God through Jesus. This is what it means to come alive spiritually!
God made new life—full, eternal, spiritual life—possible by offering up His Son. Jesus laid down His life.
But He didn’t remain dead! God the Father brought Jesus the Son back to life. “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24). Why? Because nothing can stop the living God.
Only the living God can offer eternal life—a relationship with God and fellowship with Him that never ends. Jesus put it this way: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
You probably won’t be tempted today to serve a false god made of metal or wood or stone. But you will be tempted to give your heart to things that aren’t God. Remember this: None of those things can give life.
The life we need and the life we want is found only in the living God.
What could you do today to demonstrate your allegiance to and reliance on the living God?
