Listen to Jeremiah’s cryptic description of idolatry: “Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” (Jeremiah 10:5 NLT). Idols allow me to remain the centre of my life and loyalties. Everything remains under my control. Idols can take any shape you like. Yours are different to mine. This idol God does nothing and demands nothing, he is there if you want him like a book on the shelf.
However, God HAS revealed Himself and an encounter with God is awesome, majestic, mysterious, merciful, and holy. This is the vast unknown. John Wesley said, “Bring me a worm who can understand a man and I will bring you a man who can understand the triune God.” I have said before, if we could understand God, He would cease to be God

Zophar said to Job: “Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? Such knowledge is higher than the heavens— and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld — what do you know? It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea.” Job 11:7-9
I love theology because to me theology is faith seeking understanding. To fathom the mysteries of God is life’s most rewarding quest.
Think about this: Light travels at 298,000kms/ sec. Because the sun is 150 million kms away it takes 8 minutes to get here. Compare the light from Betelquese in the constellation of Orion. It takes 520 years to get here. What was happening 520 years ago? In 1517 Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg. That means that the light that left Orion at that time is not even here yet! The Diameter of Orion is twice the size of the earth’s orbit! (640 million kms) And that is just one constellation among millions. Psalm 104:24 says, “ Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all;” God’s universe is awesome and powerful.

The only time that God appeared to millions of people He made it very clear what He was interested in. He was a God of values. He was a God that was against lying, adultery or any sexual immorality, stealing, idolatry, disrespect of parents, murder, and coveting. Think about that! The one-time God came down via the quaking sides of Sinai, before millions of people, He proclaims Himself the God of values, justice, righteousness and holiness.

The pagan world, whether in our day or that of the Old Testament has always been haunted by the unknowability of God. Plato said, “If God could be found it would be impossible to express Him in terms that we could understand. Aristotle spoke of God as a supreme cause that all men dreamed of, but no man could know. The philosophers were right. Without a revelation of God, He is indeed unknowable. So, we must begin a journey to know the real God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”