The Syrians thought the God of the Israelites was limited to helping the Israelites only in the mountains. They thought that if they could lure them into the valleys, they could easily defeat them. They were wrong, and suffered a devastating defeat. If God is God at all, He is God everywhere and all the time.

What about your conception of God? Do you think of God as being a God only in certain areas of your life, but not in others?

For example: Is your God a God in sickness, but not in health? Is there not more danger in being lost when you are healthy? Do you have one God for Sunday, and a different God during the week? Would the God you worship on Sunday approve of your business dealings, your language, and your recreation during the week? Is your God a God of some commands of the Bible, but not all commands of the Bible? Do you put more emphasis on the command to “love one another,” (1Peter 4:8), and forget the command to “love God” (1John 5:3; 2John 6)? Do you put more emphasis on the command to “worship” (Revelation 22:9c), but pay little attention as to how you are to worship (John 4:23-24)? I your God a God in death, but not in life? We all want God near to us at death, but do we want Him near during our life? If God is not our God during life, He will not be our God at death (Proverbs 1:24-28).

True Christianity is not something you can turn off and on like a light switch. The Blood of Christ cleanses our sins only if we “walk in the light as He is in the light (1John 1:7). Even our prayers are hindered by inconsistent Christian living (1Peter 3:12). God has never rewarded half-hearted commitment (Deuteronomy 4:29). — Toby Miller

Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.

Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).