Sam shuffled in his chair. God sat silently; affectionately staring at Sam with that same wild grin. God was with him, and he was evidently enjoying their time together, but he was silent nonetheless. Sam wondered why God didn’t keep the conversation flowing? Why the silence? Sam gazed back at God; he couldn’t rationalise any good reason for such periods of silence, but if nothing else, the silence between them gave Sam the opportunity to study God.
God wasn’t beautiful; that puzzled Sam. His appearance was rather routine, simple; commonplace even. Sam pondered why God, who could have presented himself in any form he desired, chose to present himself in a way that was so, well, ordinary? God had chosen to meet with Sam emptied of any majesty; a man with neither athletic physique nor good looks; a man void of outer appeal. Yet, despite any outer grandeur or brute strength to attract Sam to him, God had captivated his heart nonetheless.
Over the years, Sam had developed his own picture of God. He envisioned a towering image of strength that cast a constant shadow of judgement over him. He saw the back of an angry, bitter ruler who loathed his lifestyle, rejected his cries and scorned his infidelities. He saw the outline of a judge who screamed; who burned; who drew his sword against him. He saw a figure like steel that crushed his hopes and condemned his failings. He saw a mighty, demanding authority who shook his head in disappointment. He saw a silhouette that caused him to run; a judgemental god; an unfair god; a god he could live without.
Sam sat in the silence, looking into the eyes of the vulnerable, ordinary God before him. He stared in awe as he realised how this God was nothing like the god of his imagination. This God did not seek to drag him before his judgement seat; rather he met him as an equal; a servant even. He didn’t expect Sam to beg forgiveness, rather, he took his side; he defended him; justified him. He silenced the roars of violence and condemnation; he overcame the strong man who crippled him with fear and despair. He set him free; he met him in his mess, and yet declared him clean. He didn’t talk about his faults, failings or unbelief; rather he just talked; how incredible that God just wanted to talk; no stings attached.
The body God chose to reveal himself in was limited; weak even, but there was more to God than the jar of clay sitting before him. There was an eternity within; a power that could not be contained; a love that was limitless; a Spirit that was radically free. Sam looked at the visible God before him; the humble, unspectacular God in human skin, and somehow, through being able to see him in such a fragile shell, it enabled him to see the glorious, invisible God who reigned within.
Sam could see God; his eyes were open! Life erupted. He stood atop a mountain; his feet secure; his heart ablaze; his hands raised. The heavens roared; the sun engulfed him; the wind encircled him, the world was alive; Sam was alive; new life had overtaken him. He could see God. After all the visions of a harsh, vengeful, disappointed god that one preacher after another had painted for him, Sam could finally see the reality of the loving, embracing, graceful God. It was a moment of clarity that disarmed years of distortion. A breathe of grace that extinguished the a fire of lies. (Continue reading)
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Wow! Mighty God, Supreme, Divine, Creator of the Universe, who went down from heaven, choose to become flesh and despised the shame on the cross because He love us. This is our GOD, despite of Him being SUPERNATURAL and EXTRAORDINARY, He remain ordinary to meet us at our level. Need we fear Him? Because of Jesus sacrifice for us, we can now come boldly to the throne of Grace of God, where we can find help in times of need.
Thank you Mick for sharing. God is well pleased with how you share His character nature to people.