![[Graphic of a statement]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/I_am_the_Lord.jpg)
| “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.” |
| —Isaiah 43:11-12 |
As a teenager, I had the privilege of spending time at two Christian summer camps. One camp, Camp Findley of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, was located on the lovely Findley Lake in western New York State, just 45 minutes from my current residence. I met my wife of 52 years there when I was just 15 years old. The second Christian summer camp, Odosagih Bible Conference, was located on the western shore of Lime Lake in Machias, New York—in central western New York State, southeast of Buffalo, NY—just about two hours from my current residence. The significant impact of these two Christian camps on the spiritual formation during my teenage years cannot be denied. I had the privilege of hearing many encouraging and motivating Bible teachers.
On particular Bible teacher at Odosagih Bible Conference was Marlin C. “Butch” Hardman, at that time the Director of Youth for Christ International in Washington, DC. Butch Hardman began one teaching session with these words:
“In this life, if you cannot be smart, handsome, or cool, at least be unique.”
I have thought about that potent phrase many times over the years. The fact that Butch Hardman was smart, handsome, and very cool also made him quite unique among the people that I knew in those younger days of my life. Nevertheless, his suggestion that a person develop those characteristics that make one unique has always had the ring of truth to me.
In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, God declares that He is unique. He states that He alone is the one and only savior. He alone is the one true God. He alone is the only one with the power to create. And, He alone is the only one with the power to save.
As we begin another day, let’s remember that the One who has chosen us to belong to Himself is the only one who can save us from the penalty of our sins. That is the very reason why God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in our place. God has saved us. He has called us to Himself. He sustains us. He delivers us from the powers of sin, death, and Satan. Our God is totally and completely and absolutely unique. He is no strange god. He is our God!
