Yet, the Lord thinks of me. Psalm 40:17
There are many people who profess belief in a higher power. This belief is the basis of most world religions. What each of us believes is typically unique to the experience of each individual, but there are commonalities about what the world religions believe about a higher power.
One is that It is greater than us, to the point that we find our origin in It, and It draws us to worship It. This higher power also has all-powerful, all knowing, and eternal qualities that go beyond time and space. Finally, and probably most important, is that the higher power is the source of goodness, justice, and peace and is opposed by anything that is evil and malicious. After these attributes, the world religions begin to disagree as to who or what the higher power is.
These are a great starting point to understand who God is. But for the Christian, God has revealed so much more about himself. God is not just an ambiguous higher power proven by a theoretical and philosophical proof. Rather, He has broken into His creation in time and space and has revealed Himself to us, His creation. And He does not reveal Himself as a taskmaster or an overlord, but comes to us as Father and Friend. He reveals His love for us in a way that Theory and Philosophy never could, by becoming one of us and forming a relationship with us. His time here on Earth in the Person of Jesus Christ was not for His good, it was so that we could become like Him. He humbles Himself to almost nothing, so that we can have everything.
But God goes even further. He not only loves the human race as a whole, He loves each of us individually. He thinks of us, knows us, cares for us, disciplines us, and loves us. He gives us the ability to know Him intimately and privately, and invites us to share that love with others. Jesus shows us the way to the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit and when we allow ourselves to enter into His life, we are transformed by his love.
But a personal relationship with God is not the end goal. God wants us to be a family with all of those who believe and love Him. That’s why Jesus brings together a band of disciples and forms the Church. Love is non-existent in isolation. It only exists if it is shared, and God gives us the Church where we can receive His love, and we can share that love with each other. In this way, God shows that he has thought of us and provided our every need.
So for those who are part of the world religions that believe in a higher power, they are on the right path. But if they do not belong to the Christian tradition, they are missing out on the beautiful truth that God has a deep love for each individual. God is drawing all people to Himself and desires to give them the life for which He created them. He will patiently wait until they come willingly into His family, and all those who desire this can find it in the person of Jesus Christ and the Church that He instituted. All are welcome because God does not just think of the Christians, He thinks of all people and desires to be with them forever.