The Pastor’s Piece – Pastor Kevin Cernek, FCFI Chaplain

FCFI

May 31, 2026

Who is God?

People have asked that question for centuries, and no mortal person has ever fully answered it. Yet nothing affects your life more than what you believe or disbelieve about God. Your view of God shapes how you live, how you love, how you endure suffering, how you spend your life, and how you face death.

There are many subjects we can study and walk away from and say, “I know a lot about that.” But when it comes to God, the more we know, the more we realize how little we know. We live in an age filled with information and human achievement. We can solve problems, build technology, and unlock mysteries of the universe. Yet even the greatest minds eventually run into questions they cannot answer.

Stephen Hawking, the famous physicist and atheist, wrote extensively about the origin of the universe. Near the end of his work, he admitted that if he could understand the “why” behind existence, he would “know the mind of God.” Though he denied a Creator, he still recognized that the deepest questions of life cannot be answered by science alone. Why are we here?
What gives life meaning? Why does the human heart keep searching for something beyond itself? Those questions never go away.

A few years ago, my wife and I were on a three hour airplane flight. A man sitting beside me barely spoke for the first half of the flight, but eventually he began telling me about his life, his failed marriage, deep disappointments, painful experiences with church, and how he had walked away from it all. But then he said something interesting: “I gave up on church, but I didn’t give up on God.” That statement stayed with me because it reflects the struggle of so many people. They may walk away from religion, institutions, or even other Christians, but the question of God still remains. Deep down, people want to know: Is there meaning to life? Is there hope beyond suffering? Can I know God personally?

The Bible says God has “set eternity in the heart of man.” People instinctively know there is something beyond themselves. Even those who deny God often spend their lives searching for meaning, purpose, peace, and hope. But our culture has increasingly turned God into an abstract idea, some vague force or energy rather than a Person. People are comfortable with the idea of a “higher power,” because a force makes no demands. A force cannot confront us, correct us, or call us into a relationship.

But the God of the Bible is not an impersonal force. He is personal. He speaks. He acts. He loves. He calls. And yet many people struggle with Him because life is painful. If God is all-powerful, why is there suffering? If He is good, why do we experience loss? If He is sovereign, why does life break our hearts? Those are not merely philosophical questions. They are deeply personal questions.

I have sat beside grieving families, stood in hospital rooms, preached funerals, and watched people wrestle with unbearable pain. In those moments, theology stops being abstract. Suddenly words like sovereign, holy, and omniscient carry enormous weight. The Bible never ignores this tension. Again and again, we see people asking hard questions. Moses asked God who He was, and God answered, “I AM.” Not merely a definition, but a promise of His presence. The Psalms cry out, “How long, O Lord?” showing us that honest faith can wrestle with pain. Job suffered terribly, yet still declared, “I know that my Redeemer lives.”

Ultimately, God answered humanity’s deepest questions not merely with words, but with a Person. John 1:14 says that God became flesh and dwelt among us. God came near in Jesus Christ. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. In Jesus, sovereignty is no longer cold power, it becomes a Savior who lays down His life for others. In Jesus, holiness is no longer distant perfection, it becomes a holiness that touches lepers and forgives sinners. In Jesus, omniscience is no longer frightening, it becomes a God who knows us completely and still loves us fully. In Jesus, God’s unchanging nature becomes our comfort, because His love does not fail.

That is the heart of Christianity. We do not discover God merely through philosophy or speculation. We know Him through Jesus Christ. And this changes everything. You no longer have to wonder whether God cares. The cross answers that question. You no longer have to wonder whether God understands suffering. Jesus entered into suffering Himself. You no longer have to wonder whether forgiveness is possible. Christ died and rose again so sinners could be reconciled to God.

One of the most comforting truths Jesus ever gave us is how He addressed God: “Holy Father.” Think about that. The God who created the universe invites us into a relationship with Him as a Father.

As my own children have grown older, one of my greatest joys is hearing their voices on the phone: “Hi Dad.” No matter how old they become, that relationship remains precious. And in an even greater way, God invites us to know Him personally, not as a distant force, but as our Holy Father.

That is why people instinctively seek God in moments of crisis. Deep down, they know they need more than information. They need Someone to hold onto.The Bible says, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” But that becomes true only when we surrender our hearts to Him.

And that is the invitation today. Not merely to know about God, but to know Him through Jesus Christ. Not merely to admire Him, but to trust Him. Not merely to discuss Him, but to surrender to Him. Because in surrendering to Christ, you do not lose your life, you finally find it.

Who is God? He is your Holy Father. He is the God who comes near. He is the God revealed in Jesus Christ. And He is calling you to Himself today.

(Kevin Cernek is Lead Pastor of Martintown Community Church in Martintown, Wisconsin)