On a radio program the other day, I heard something that got my attention. They said, “we all pray to the same God.” It is true according to Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”) that there is only one God. So, the question is, “who is this one God and what is His name?” Isaiah said, “Â . . . a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Is 7:14). Matthew 1:23 interprets Emmanuel as “God with us.” He also stated, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21).
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist” (I Jn 4:3). The word (God) was made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:1). This one God was in the world, “and the world was made by him… and the world knew him not” (Jn 1:10). Jesus Christ is the Son of God, or the flesh of (the invisible) God. He is not Jehovah Junior, or the second person in the Godhead, but the only person in the Godhead. He is the son Isaiah described as, “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6). The invisible God of the Old Testament now had a body and a name, Jesus.
When they took Jesus to be crucified, Peter cut off the ear of the soldier. Jesus put the soldier’s ear back on and healed him. Jesus told Peter, “Put up again thy sword – for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Mt 26:52). Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world or else he would have fought. The true Church did not fight, but instead they were fed to the lions, slain with the sword, stoned and endured many other afflictions. The church has not changed today. The true church is not going to get into a fight with someone that does not believe in this Jesus. Jesus is searching for those who are seeking for him.
The angel announcing the birth of Jesus said “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Lk 2:10). If we all prayed to this Jesus (God), then there would be great joy and no fear. Prayer is more than just talking because it involves listening as well. Jesus’ message to us today is still the same that it has always been. Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him (Mt 16:24). When you pray to Jesus (talk and listen), life becomes about others and not about yourself. Therefore, if praying to your God does not make life and this world a better place, then we all don’t pray to the same God.
Out of all the gods that people pray to today, I have a God that became flesh and died for my sins. That is love! I know of no other religion that has a god that has done that. Today Jesus loves every kindred and race, and offers atonement (restoration to divine favor) to all.
America has turned away from the one true wise God. All of life’s answers can still be found in Jesus (the fleshly manifestation of the word of God). “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12). “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps 9: 17). Clearly today, we have forgotten who God is. Wake up America and return to God, before we are destroyed!
I am glad I know who Jesus is! Jesus is the God I pray to and Jesus is the God that I ask to bless America and the world. “Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Ps 144:15).
Pastor Mark A. Meyer Sr. does not claim to be an author or writer, but during the 9/11 attacks and grieving, he felt led to submit this article to the Mansfield News Journal in response to the many voices who said all religions were praying to the same God.