It’s one thing to speak of God and another to think he’s our God. Many say they believe in God but come short of possession. Here the Lord says something of himself. He was saying “I’m the only God around.”
Isaiah 45: 5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
Chapter 45 is a message from God to Cyrus. Israel was captive under many kings and he was one of them. Cyrus was King of Persia and the most moral of the kings. God used this heathen king. He put it in his heart to let the people of Israel, God’s people, go back home. The land was ravaged. The few people who were still around were vagabonds. The temple was on the ground. What was there to go back to? They were still better off in the land of the Lord instead of Babylon.
We’re almost captive in a Babylon of our own. When you visit NYC you’d better guard your wallet. Sin and comprise is prevalent even among Christianity. It is thought of as okay in society as long as we fit in with what society thinks. Over a few chapters Israel was melting down their gold and making idols. We see about the same idolatry today. God wanted Israel and us to know there is no one besides God. The key blessing is that if Jesus is our Savior, God becomes our God.
God said he had girded—or clothed—him even though Cyrus didn’t know God. He clothed us when we didn’t know him. We can say with all humility that God is our God. We made Jesus our Savior and as believers, God is our God. We must shut out any other dominance over us. There is nothing outside of God, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit—the three in one. We don’t understand how he can be one God in three persons. We can’t figure out the Trinity; we just believe it. When we have surgery it’s not one doctor who does everything; there are many and they work together as a team to give us the best care we can get. God is a team. In the beginning he said “let us make man in our own image.” He created the universe. When we were born again we were a new creature, created unto good works. We do nothing good of ourselves. If not for God’s son and the Holy Spirit in us we couldn’t do anything. He’s the way-maker and is perfect. God is on the throne and he’s our God.
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. If we could just respond this way: “you are my God and there is nothing else.” If you mess up, ask the Lord to help you and be determined to serve him in single mindedness. Achieve this: “God, you are our God and there is no other God.” He had confidence in us. We need to show him we trust that confidence. By trusting in Jesus Christ we entered into God’s family. We must look to him as the only true God. If it wasn’t possible God would not have let his son go through what he did. Jesus died and was buried. God raised him on the third day. He did it for us and we need nothing, no one, else. Getting to heaven doesn’t depend on what I have or don’t have. I don’t have to jump out a window to prove I’m a Christian. The devil tried those kinds of tricks on Jesus; how foolish the devil is.
So we may know. We can respond with a thank you for being our only God, the true and living God. That’s how we make it to heaven. He’s all we need.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 