The invisibility of God:For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18b). (Heb 11:3) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Heb 11:6) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (John 1:18) No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 6:46) No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. There are many things that are invisible, a few examples are; gravity, the wind, magnetism, electricity etc. In all these things we can measure their effect. Now, since God is spirit and not matter, after all he created the material universe, he is invisible. However he has revealed himself in human history in his dealings with people and supremely through Jesus Christ. He has made it very easy to believe in the invisible God by becoming man. He has also revealed himself to people who trust and obey him down through the centuries. One of the great mysteries of the Christian faith is the invisibility of God. After all we believe in a God whom we cannot see, we believe in God by faith. However faith is the essence of Christianity, it is a faith. The apostle Paul said: 'We live by faith, not by sight.' (2 Cor 5:7). If we lived by sight it would not be by faith. And Habbakuk says -- but the righteous will live by his faith-- (Hab 2:4). Therefore we live by faith, not by sight and not by feeling either. Faith however is not irrational, it is firmy based on truth. Faith is based on God's revelation to man as recorded in scripture. How do we get faith? Faith comes by the word of God, either through scripture or by preaching (Rom 10:14). God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to reach men and woman (1 Cor 1:21). The testimony of the Thessalonians is clear as an example of this: (1 Th 2:13 NIV) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. Now it was Carl Sagan who said that if God put a large cross in the sky then he would believe in God. However, not only would this be unfitting for the Creator of the universe, it adds an element of coercion. Further, God would have men seek Him (Acts 15:17, 17:27) and paradoxically it allows God to reveal Himself to those who do not seek him (Rom 10:20), it gives God the option of revealing himself to whom He choses. If God was seen, then faith would not be required. Maybe if we saw God somewhere in the sky it sitting on a throne it would be easier to believe in him. Yet we cannot see God in the sky on his throne. The bible declares that the existence of created things is sufficient evidence of the existence of God, and therefore men can choose to suppress this truth (Rom 1:18-21), and in addition the Christian has the evidence of the bible which records God's dealings with man over time. However the invisibility of God is a test of faith, especially in an age in which 'seeing is believing'. However it is clear that faith is something which God greatly values, because without it, it is impossible to please God: (Heb 11:6 NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Heb 11:6 tells us that 'without faith it is impossible to please God' and Noah was commended because he was warned about things not yet seen and still obeyed God and built the ark. (Heb 11:7 NIV) By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Abraham was also commended because he went to a place that he did not know (i.e. he could not see). (Heb 11:8 NIV) By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 1 Pet 1:8 tells us of new Christian who love Christ without seeing him. (1 Pet 1:8 NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, In talking about the old Testament saints the bible says that they were all commended for their faith and yet none of them received what was promised (in their lifetime). (Heb 11:39 NIV) These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. Now to us who live near to the end of time - do we deprive ourselves of earthly pleasures because because we look forward to an invisible heaven with eternal pleasures that endure while our earthly pleasures are temporary and last for only a short time. After all it was Paul who said: (2 Cor 4:17-18 NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. {18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Here Paul contrasts then our troubles in this life which are short, and of a fixed duration with the glory which is eternal. Not only that but he contrasts our earthly troubles, which are clearly seen and felt, with the eternal glory which is unseen. So that the things that we see only last for a short time but that which we cannot see lasts for eternity. Therefore the test of faith is to fix our eyes on that which we cannot see and yet endures for eternity and to let go of those things that we can clearly see in this life, but which only last for a season in our short lives. There is also the danger here of being so super-spiritual that we totally disregard the things of this life for the things of the next life. A person can be married and have children, work and still be fit for the next life. The bible clearly expresses disapproval against those who command men to remain celibate although this is a also a special gift of God - both Jesus and Paul lived celibate lives. The Christian is someone who believes in God, even though he cannot see God, he is a believer, in contrast to an unbeliever. But for the person searching for meaning in life the fact that God, if he exists, is invisible is a perplexing issue. The Bible declares that no man can see his face and live (Ex 33:20). Despite being invisible he still expects us to search for him and find him (Acts 17:27) and he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb 11:6). Although he is invisible He has not left himself without a witness - 'however since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his divine nature and eternal power - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made' (Rom 1:20). Unless man deliberately suppresses this truth of creation, the eternity of God is obvious, both in time and space. Have you ever looked up at the stars and yet God is greater than the visible universe. Have you ever wondered about time and yet God is the God who inhabits eternity, he is without beginning and end, he knows the beginning and the end, he is the Alpha and Omega. We who are creatures have a beginning but God had no beginning, such a God cannot be imagined, but He is God and we are his creation. Both time and dimension are a creation of God who is bigger than both. Having looked up into space to see the infinity of God we can look inward and see the intricacy of matter, the detail of the living cell and its intricate mechanisms that allows it to function, the more man probes the inner workings of nature the more complex it becomes. Such a discovery should cause a man to give glory to God, unfortunately, man in his rebellion against God prefers to worship created things rather than acknowledge his Creator. The infinity of God both in time and space is one of the things that separates the creature from the Creator. We are finite both in time and space, we have a definite beginning and a finite size. The elders of Rev 4:11 worship God and give him glory and honour because he - 'created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being'. We would do right to do likewise, and give God both the honour and the glory due to God our Creator. 1 Tim 6:16 refers to God as the one 'who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see'. The infinite God has however made it easy for us mortals to understand him by becoming a man - while we would rightly be afraid of the eternal and infinite being who created the universe, he has condescended to become one of us and share in our humanity. Instead of putting our faith in the eternal God, he became man and said if you put your trust in the man Jesus Christ you shall be saved (John 3:13 ff, 3:36). God could not have made it any easier. Jesus claimed to have seen the Father (John 6:46) and to be one with the Father (John 10:30). Jesus said 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:9). Anyone who believes in Jesus also believes in the Father (John 12:44). The scriptures go so far as to say that: Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) and that all God's fullness dwells in Jesus (Col 1:19). Even while he was on earth his heavenly glory was revealed as he was transfigured before his disciples and 'His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light' (Mat 17:2) and while he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Mat 17:5), we would do well to listen to Jesus. Now of course Jesus in not on earth anymore, he is in heaven and will return to earth someday soon; no, the question is, how can Jesus become real to us? One way is through the scriptures; on the road to emmaus after the resurrection Jesus was with some disciples, yet they were prevented from recognizing Jesus. And yet their hearts burned within them as he interpreted the scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:13-32). Thus Jesus reveals himself to us through the word of God. Of course we believe in Jesus by faith, but it is not an irrational faith because faith comes from the word of God (Rom 10:17). We believe that the testimony of the scriptures concerning Jesus are true. Peter shows the result of faith: 'Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls' (1 Pet 8,9). Jesus loves me this I know, because the bible tells me so. The simplicity of faith is such that little children can come to know Jesus. Jesus himself says that 'anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it' Luke 18:17. Let the wise and learned beware, your learning could prevent you from entering the kingdom of heaven. (1 Cor 1:18-24) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." {20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Another way in which Jesus is revealed and made real to us is through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that 'the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you' John 16:15. In fact Jesus said that it is to our advantage that he has gone into heaven otherwise he could not send the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (John 14:17, 16:7). Paul goes on to teach that our body is God's temple and that God's Spirit lives within us (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). God our redeemer:God is more than our Creator he is also our redeemer, our Creator is also the one who decided to rescue us when we fell into sin and rebellion. And yet what was our reaction to God then - to crucify him. Unfortunately our reaction has changed little since. Today we might not crucify him, we would smother him at birth, just as Herod tried to do. God became man in order to communicate with man at man's level. If you or I wanted to communicate with a colony of ants, the easiest way would to become an ant. It should humble us that the infinite God became a man and dwelt on this earth for a short period nearly two thousand years ago. But mankind, both Gentile and Jew (as Pontius Pilate and the Jewish high priests), crucified him on a cross where he was publicly humiliated because he claimed to be God. Now we know that such a man was either mad, bad or God (i.e. he was telling us the truth about himself). However death could not hold him and God raised him from the dead on the third day when he appeared to over five hundred of his disciples. He ascended into heaven and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. You see, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. This is the wonderful news, God does not count our sins against us, we might be sexually immoral, adulterers, homosexuals, drunkards etc. Jesus died a death on the cross that was unjust, he died the innocent for the guilty, he died so that your guilt and my guilt can be paid for on behalf of a holy God. He died that we might become good in this life, and do good in this life and go to heaven for eternity in the next life. Jesus has paid the price for our sins, they are no barrier to us being reconciled with God. More than that He will give us His own righteousness so that we can stand before the eternal God. There is a price to be paid in this life, it is to turn away from sin and towards God. But when we turn to Jesus from our sin, he gives us his righteousness in fact he is our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30). Becoming a Christian is rather like marriage, when Jesus becomes our husband all our sin becomes his, his righteousness becomes ours. Our poverty becomes his and his riches become ours. When we become Christian it is for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or health. If you are willing to take these marriage vows then you are ready to become a Christian. God does not promise riches in this life, only in the next life - instead he tells us to sell our possessions and to give to the poor and we will have treasure in heaven for eternity. If you die tonight are you ready, if you live until Christ comes again are you ready? The choice is yours, may God help us. Scripture references:(Exo 33:20) But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." (Mat 6:6) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Mat 6:17-18) But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, {18} so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Mat 17:1-5) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. {2} There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. {3} Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. {4} Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." {5} While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Luke 18:17) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (John 1:18) No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 6:46) No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:30 I and the Father are one." John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. (John 14:8-13) Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." {9} Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? {10} Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. {11} Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. {13} And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (John 14:17) the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 16:7) But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (Acts 17:27) God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (Rom 1:18-25) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, {19} since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. {20} For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. {21} For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. {22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools {23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. {24} Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. {25} They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. (Rom 1:20) For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom 10:17) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (1 Cor 1:30) It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Cor 3:16) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor 6:19) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (2 Cor 4:17-18) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. {18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (Col 1:15-20) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col 2:9) For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (1 Tim 1:17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim 6:16) who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 John 4:12) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:20) If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (3 John 1:11) Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. (1 Pet 1:7-9) These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. {8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, {9} for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (Heb 11:27) By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Rev 4:11) "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Links
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