Super-Sized God

The New Year coupled with tough economic times has given voice to a common mantra—downsize! Lose weight. Cut back. Save more. Eliminate debt. Reduce your fossil fuel emissions. Shrink your carbon footprint. Then, there is the lone voice at the fast-food drive-through (not that I drive through drive-throughs, but I hear....), “Sir, would you like that super-sized?”

I say a hearty, “Uh, Yeah!”

Hang with me here—I’m not talking about an order of fries but about our concept of God.

When it comes to thinking about the Almighty, far too many people think of God like men wear their pants. You’ve seen ‘em—men just will NOT give into the truth. They insist on trying to fit into the same size pants they wore years (or even decades) ago (in the South we’d say, “the way they yoostacould.”) To make these pants fit, they just wear ‘em a little lower, then a little bit lower still, and sometimes, even, a lot lower. The other day I saw a “gentleman” wearing his pants so low in the front his rodeo belt buckle was completely parallel to the ground. It looked like his gut was being carried along on a dinner plate.

And to make God “fit” their comfort zone, that’s what many people do—they just bring Him a little lower, then a little bit lower, and sometimes even a whole lot lower. They wear their “god” like men do pants, fabricating him into some mere adornment that’s “cute” or “cool” or “just right.” Yet, He is the God of the entire universe!

In dedicating the temple it took 180,000 workers seven years to build, Solomon exclaimed, “O Lord God, there is none like Thee in heaven above or on earth beneath....Behold, heaven, even the highest heaven, cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:22, 27)

I realize times are tough and New Year’s resolutions bid better discipline, so go ahead. Do what you must. But, when it comes to how we think about God, I have a suggestion—let’s go up a size! Frankly, sir, I don’t really care how you wear your pants (as long as you wear ‘em), but I do hope to persuade you to order B-I-G when it comes to your God. It’s one thing to get out-whataburgered, but to get out-faithed? Not me! I’m going up a size this year. I’m believing my God to be super-sized!