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Concerning God, the apostle Paul said, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:4-6 KJV).

In 2 Peter 3:9 KJV, Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The truth that God wants to have a relationship with mankind is indisputable. From the Garden of Eden to the Ark of Noah, to the exodus from Egypt, God was striving to keep man close to Him. God so desired a relationship with man that He continually sent champions to defend His people. He sent judges and prophets and great leaders to draw men to Him. Eventually He sent His only begotten son (John 3:16). That God wanted to be a part of the lives of men is evidenced in that God made mankind after His own image. This was a stark difference between mankind and the rest of God’s creation. 

One important point we should grasp is that God wants us, rather than needs us. But that should cause us to stop and reflect on the fact that it is better to be wanted than it is to be needed. This concept is of great importance and has long-lasting implications. Stop for a moment and consider the implications of what it would mean if God needed us? It would mean that God has a deficiency. It would mean that He’s not all powerful. It would reveal a real flaw and weakness in God; and friends we know that God doesn’t have weaknesses.

I hope that we all can see that because God does not need us, He still prefers to have us near Him. Despite the sin we commit in our lives God still wants to have a special relationship with us that results with us living eternally with Him. These thoughts should fill our hearts with a joy and love that goes beyond what we can experience in the physical world. As great as the blessings of this world are (plants, animals, food, water, etc.), they cannot compare to the wonders that God has in store for man in heaven.    

This desire that God has regarding men should be translated into a desire that grows within us for our fellow man. Consider how many people in the Elizabethton area that have no idea that we truly want them to be a part of the Lord’s Church, a part of the Kingdom of God. If we, like God, put proper effort into letting people know that we want them to be a part of our congregation, what could the Kingdom look like in Elizabethton? This is what we each should want to communicate to our fellow man. 

If it means so much to us, that God wants us to be a part of His family, rather than He needs us to be, wouldn’t that mean the same to most other people in our community and in the world? The answer is an obvious yes. I can recall so many people who have invited me to be a part of the Church, to be a part of the teaching of the Word, to be a part of preaching the Gospel, and also to serve as an Elder in the Church. 

It is never an understatement to tell you what you already know about this; when people want us to be a part of something it means more to us, and it would mean more to others if they knew we wanted them to be a part of something. This process has and can change lives. We should always pray that God would give us a heart like His; a heart that desires to communicate the great love and desire that God has for men to be Christians. 

If you are not a Christian, know this, God wants you to be one. You can be a Christian if you are willing through obedience to the Word of God, to repent of sin, confess the name of Jesus before men, be baptized for the remission of sins, and then live a faithful life. The truth is that all Christians want and need others to be a part of the Church. If you have questions, concerns or desires contact us at (423) 737-2287.

(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)