Where should one go to find God? How can we discover what God is like? There are several ways to discover God, some more effective than others. In Romans 1:20 we learn that the invisible attributes of God can be deduced from observing the things that God has created. Just as we can discover some things about a particular culture by analyzing the products they design and make, we can learn some rudimentary things about God by examining the things He designed and created.
A second source of information about God is the Bible. The Bible is the record of God’s activity in history and His interaction with humanity. In Hebrews 1:1–2 we read: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions, and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (NAS). In the Bible and the events recorded there, we hear the voice and message of God.
However, there is an even better source for understanding the nature, character and purpose of God. Hebrews 1:2-3 says that Jesus is this superior revelation, or ultimate authoritative voice of God. There we read that Jesus is the radiance and the exact reproduction of the essence or character of God (cf. Heb.1:3; Rev. 1:16).
Reading the Old Testament gives us a basic understanding regarding God, as we learn what God is like based upon His activities, and from the expectations He placed upon people. But this picture of God in the Old Testament is limited. It is like encountering a shadow as compared to meeting the real person, or like looking at a black and white representation as opposed to actually encountering the Living and multi-glorious God, who lives in dazzling full-spectrum light.
This greater revelation occurs when we encounter God face to face, as present in the person of Jesus Christ. Since God has become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:14; and John 14:7), we can now see God’s glorious character made tangible in Jesus. Jesus came in order for the magnificent presence of God to be manifested in our midst, so that we could understand what God is really like, and then seek to enter into a personal relationship with Him.
This testimony is confirmed in Hebrews 1:1-3. There we understand that in former times, God spoke to people at various times and in different-sized portions in the events recorded in the Old Testament. But now that Jesus has come, Jesus has become the ultimate manifestation of God to humanity, and therefore God’s ultimate authoritative Word to us (cf. John 1:1, 1:14, 18). The verb “has spoken” in Hebrews 1:2 translates a Greek verb that means a final, complete speaking; a full and complete revelation. The life and ministry of Jesus recorded in the New Testament of the Bible represents God’s ultimate and complete Word of God to mankind.
In John 1:18 we read: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God [i.e., Jesus] … He has explained Him.” Jesus came to explain God to us. Jesus came to reveal God in such a clear way that we could all know what God is like, what He values, what His character is like, and how we can come to know Him. If you want to know what God is like, let Jesus explain God to you.
In Hebrews 1:3 we discover that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. He is the brightness of the goodness, beauty, and essential nature of God. He is the bright presence of God who came to live temporarily among men (cf. John 1:14).
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. The Greek word used here meant the exact reproduction of the original. Jesus is the exact reproduction of the character qualities of God. He is not just a chip off the old block, He is a manifestation of the whole block. Therefore Jesus could say, “I and My Father are One.” (cf. John 10:30). Since He is God, He therefore upholds the universe with the Word of His power (Heb. 1:3), thus His word is God’s Word.
The ultimate revealer of God to us today is the person of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. When we look into the face of Jesus, we see the face of God. Have you found God in Christ?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Looking For God in Creation
What can we learn about Germans or German culture by looking at their Mercedes, BMW, or Volkswagen cars? When we examine their cars, we discover that Germans value quality workmanship and longevity in their products. They design their cars to last for many years. When we lived in Hungary, the major comment about German cars was that they were built to last.
We can often learn things about a designer by looking at the finished product. This is one of the main points Paul is making in Romans 1:20 (N.A.S.), where he says: “For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (people) are without excuse.” Paul is saying that people can know that there really is a God, and come to understand some basic characteristics about God, because the things created and designed give us insights into the Designer.
This passage says that three categories of information about God are revealed in the created world we live in. We can discern something of God’s invisible attributes by looking at the visible things He has designed and produced. Just like we can understand from German automobiles that most Germans value quality, enduring cars, we can understand from what God has made that God is a God of ingenious design. The sophistication of design obvious in plants, animals, people, and DNA, all point to a God who does not do things without thoughtful design. Providing for change through adaptation merely heightens the magnitude of His forethought and design capability.
This morning I sat on my deck and watched three hummingbirds competing for the nectar in our hummingbird feeder. I was awed by the speed and mobility of these little birds. They hover, dodge, or fly up-down-sideways-forwards-backwards. They could dodge a diving attack of another one traveling at speeds of 60 mph. The design required for that little creature to fly like that points to one incredible aeronautic Engineer. Of course there is also the long straw-like beak of the hummingbird that needed to be incorporated into the design in order to provide the fuel needed to maintain such energy output.
Even a casual look at the created things that surround us everyday reveals a God of order, design, efficiency, balance, sophistication, diversity, and coordination, who designed the interdependence and complimentary interaction of the varied life on this planet. These characteristics are some of the attributes of God that we cannot see, but which become obvious as we look at what He created. Just as we can deduce some things about a culture that makes particular cars, machines, or watches, we can also deduce some things about God by examining the things He has designed and made.
Paul said that we also get insights into the power of God when we look at nature. The power required to create the earth is incredible. But then the earth is just one tiny part of a vast universe that this same Creator designed and produced. Not only did it require incredible energy and power to produce the created universe, it also takes enormous power to sustain all the systems involved in the ongoing existence of creation. Such comprehensive power is certainly far beyond human abilities.
We can discover some things about God’s divine nature through what He has made. God is eternal, having been the Creator and prime mover in creation who has been actively involved in sustaining creation ever since its inception, however long ago you believe that was. God is the great Provider, providing what is needed for life and the continuance of life. God is the One who is all wise, as demonstrated by being able to pre-design a universe in which the millions of parts helpfully interact for the sustaining of the whole. God is omniscient, knowing all things. He is omnipresent, able to be in all places at once. God is limitless in creativity, love, knowledge, and power. God is the one who imparts value to our lives and to His creation. He creates value in us, by valuing us. He is large enough to have conceived the big picture in creation, and small enough to have meticulously designed and produced atoms and molecules.
As we look at the created world around us, from the smallest systems and life-forms to the largest, from the simplest to the most complex, from the most docile to the most active, we get visible glimpses of the astounding nature and power of the invisible God. Have you seen evidence of God lately? Have you looked?
We can often learn things about a designer by looking at the finished product. This is one of the main points Paul is making in Romans 1:20 (N.A.S.), where he says: “For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (people) are without excuse.” Paul is saying that people can know that there really is a God, and come to understand some basic characteristics about God, because the things created and designed give us insights into the Designer.
This passage says that three categories of information about God are revealed in the created world we live in. We can discern something of God’s invisible attributes by looking at the visible things He has designed and produced. Just like we can understand from German automobiles that most Germans value quality, enduring cars, we can understand from what God has made that God is a God of ingenious design. The sophistication of design obvious in plants, animals, people, and DNA, all point to a God who does not do things without thoughtful design. Providing for change through adaptation merely heightens the magnitude of His forethought and design capability.
This morning I sat on my deck and watched three hummingbirds competing for the nectar in our hummingbird feeder. I was awed by the speed and mobility of these little birds. They hover, dodge, or fly up-down-sideways-forwards-backwards. They could dodge a diving attack of another one traveling at speeds of 60 mph. The design required for that little creature to fly like that points to one incredible aeronautic Engineer. Of course there is also the long straw-like beak of the hummingbird that needed to be incorporated into the design in order to provide the fuel needed to maintain such energy output.
Even a casual look at the created things that surround us everyday reveals a God of order, design, efficiency, balance, sophistication, diversity, and coordination, who designed the interdependence and complimentary interaction of the varied life on this planet. These characteristics are some of the attributes of God that we cannot see, but which become obvious as we look at what He created. Just as we can deduce some things about a culture that makes particular cars, machines, or watches, we can also deduce some things about God by examining the things He has designed and made.
Paul said that we also get insights into the power of God when we look at nature. The power required to create the earth is incredible. But then the earth is just one tiny part of a vast universe that this same Creator designed and produced. Not only did it require incredible energy and power to produce the created universe, it also takes enormous power to sustain all the systems involved in the ongoing existence of creation. Such comprehensive power is certainly far beyond human abilities.
We can discover some things about God’s divine nature through what He has made. God is eternal, having been the Creator and prime mover in creation who has been actively involved in sustaining creation ever since its inception, however long ago you believe that was. God is the great Provider, providing what is needed for life and the continuance of life. God is the One who is all wise, as demonstrated by being able to pre-design a universe in which the millions of parts helpfully interact for the sustaining of the whole. God is omniscient, knowing all things. He is omnipresent, able to be in all places at once. God is limitless in creativity, love, knowledge, and power. God is the one who imparts value to our lives and to His creation. He creates value in us, by valuing us. He is large enough to have conceived the big picture in creation, and small enough to have meticulously designed and produced atoms and molecules.
As we look at the created world around us, from the smallest systems and life-forms to the largest, from the simplest to the most complex, from the most docile to the most active, we get visible glimpses of the astounding nature and power of the invisible God. Have you seen evidence of God lately? Have you looked?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Welcome to Thinking Upward!
In this blog I will attempt to be a catalyst for upward thinking. Upward thinking is thinking that incorporates biblical Christian perspectives on numerous issues and subjects. I hope you will find Upward Thinking worth the read!
Ed Jordan
A Word for the Weary
Do you ever get weary? In reality, all of us do. Life is just not easy, and it takes its toll on us. We all face situations that are overwhelming, and the more we try to solve them, the more exhausted we become. We all have times of physical or mental fatigue, frustration from immovable obstacles in our paths, or discouragement. Did you know that God knows that we face these things, and that He has provided us a way to deal with these types of situations? In Isaiah 40:28-30 you can read what God spoke to Israel when they were in a time of despondency and discouragement. To those people in that situation, God spoke a message of hope and of a promise for renewed power.
Whenever we are stressed or tired, we are likely to be accident prone or to behave inappropriately. It is at these times that we cannot think straight, we are obsessed with our problems, and we are not paying much attention to what we are doing, or how we are doing it. It is also under stress that we often say things we don’t mean to say, and hurt the people we don’t want to hurt.
When we are overwhelmed with life’s problems, we need a resource larger than ourselves. The very reason we are stressed or overwhelmed is because we are dealing with something beyond our resources. It is at times like these that we are wise to turn to God for help. It is God who can renew our strength; it is God who can intervene in our physical situation; it is God who really has the power and wisdom to do something about the difficulties we find ourselves in. Of course, God expects our participation and cooperation as He becomes involved in the solution to our difficulties, but it is God who has the supernatural power to do what you and I are unable to do.
In Isaiah 40:28-30, God explains why we should turn to Him for help. God can help us because He is the everlasting God (He outlives our difficulties), because He is our Creator (He knows our capabilities and limitations, strengths and weaknesses), He never faints or becomes exhausted (He can be a perpetual source of energy for us), and there are no limitations upon His understanding (He understands what we are facing, and nothing can stump Him)! Furthermore, we are told to turn to God because He is willing and able to give us strength when we are weary or feeling powerless.
At the end of this passage, God gives us an excellent illustration of how He can help us. God says that if we will wait on the Lord (which literally means to trust God and intertwine our lives with God), He will renew our strength and give us the power to soar again like an eagle. I wish to illustrate this with an incident from my life.
I once had borrowed a kite, and while using it the string broke and the kite began to fly away. The kite had a bird with outstretched wings painted on it. I chased the runaway kite up the mountain, jumping sagebrush as I went, asking God to let the kite come back down so that I could return it to its owner. After pursuing the kite for perhaps a thousand feet, it suddenly began to descend, flapping and fluttering like a real bird that had lost the wind, or had a wounded wing. I was rejoicing, thanking God that the kite was coming down so that I could return it to its owner. When the kite got about fifty feet above the ground, suddenly a gush of wind swooped in under it, and snapped the wings out with a “pop.” The kite had suddenly been given new life as an updraft straightened its wings and caused it to begin to soar. It soared and soared, higher and higher. I watched the kite until it was so high, and so far away, that I could no longer see it.
I lost the kite, but learned a great lesson. When we are out of energy, flapping and fluttering as we try to stay aloft, if we will stretch out our wings and entrust our lives to the invisible God, the Holy Spirit of God will swoop into our lives, lift us up, and cause us to soar once again like an eagle.
Whenever we are stressed or tired, we are likely to be accident prone or to behave inappropriately. It is at these times that we cannot think straight, we are obsessed with our problems, and we are not paying much attention to what we are doing, or how we are doing it. It is also under stress that we often say things we don’t mean to say, and hurt the people we don’t want to hurt.
When we are overwhelmed with life’s problems, we need a resource larger than ourselves. The very reason we are stressed or overwhelmed is because we are dealing with something beyond our resources. It is at times like these that we are wise to turn to God for help. It is God who can renew our strength; it is God who can intervene in our physical situation; it is God who really has the power and wisdom to do something about the difficulties we find ourselves in. Of course, God expects our participation and cooperation as He becomes involved in the solution to our difficulties, but it is God who has the supernatural power to do what you and I are unable to do.
In Isaiah 40:28-30, God explains why we should turn to Him for help. God can help us because He is the everlasting God (He outlives our difficulties), because He is our Creator (He knows our capabilities and limitations, strengths and weaknesses), He never faints or becomes exhausted (He can be a perpetual source of energy for us), and there are no limitations upon His understanding (He understands what we are facing, and nothing can stump Him)! Furthermore, we are told to turn to God because He is willing and able to give us strength when we are weary or feeling powerless.
At the end of this passage, God gives us an excellent illustration of how He can help us. God says that if we will wait on the Lord (which literally means to trust God and intertwine our lives with God), He will renew our strength and give us the power to soar again like an eagle. I wish to illustrate this with an incident from my life.
I once had borrowed a kite, and while using it the string broke and the kite began to fly away. The kite had a bird with outstretched wings painted on it. I chased the runaway kite up the mountain, jumping sagebrush as I went, asking God to let the kite come back down so that I could return it to its owner. After pursuing the kite for perhaps a thousand feet, it suddenly began to descend, flapping and fluttering like a real bird that had lost the wind, or had a wounded wing. I was rejoicing, thanking God that the kite was coming down so that I could return it to its owner. When the kite got about fifty feet above the ground, suddenly a gush of wind swooped in under it, and snapped the wings out with a “pop.” The kite had suddenly been given new life as an updraft straightened its wings and caused it to begin to soar. It soared and soared, higher and higher. I watched the kite until it was so high, and so far away, that I could no longer see it.
I lost the kite, but learned a great lesson. When we are out of energy, flapping and fluttering as we try to stay aloft, if we will stretch out our wings and entrust our lives to the invisible God, the Holy Spirit of God will swoop into our lives, lift us up, and cause us to soar once again like an eagle.
Helping Others See God!
Do you need glasses to see clearly? Many people today require some magnifying device, called either eyeglasses or contact lenses! Eyeglasses help our eyes to focus correctly and help enlarge things that we can no longer see naturally. Binoculars work in much the same way. If you look through a pair of binoculars for that bull elk, everything looks like a blur until you get the focus correct. Once you get the focus correct you can count the points, check the condition of the coat, etc. It is helpful to use these magnifying and focusing devices in order to get a clear picture of what you are looking at.
In Psalm 34:3, the psalmist says, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (NAS) There are many people in this world who only see a blur when they are looking for God. They can’t find Him in the midst of life’s difficulties, or among the myriad of things flooding their view. That is why it is important for those who know God to help magnify the Lord! It is not that God is too small for people to see. It is that they can’t focus enough to cut out the flood of superfluous images that make it hard for them to see God. Thus, one of our tasks as Christians is to help bring God into focus for others, so that they can see Him, come to believe in Him, and thus gain the wonderful benefits of living life in relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to adjust the focus on the binoculars, and hand them to those who do not know Jesus, that they might get a glimpse of the God they are missing.
The psalmist’s prayer was that God would be magnified through his life. How do we magnify God for others, or bring God into focus so that others can see Him? We find the answers in verses one and two of the 34th Psalm. In verse one we are instructed to bless the LORD at all times. To bless means to “speak well about” someone, to speak good things about the person. Thus at all times we are to speak well of God and point out the good things about God’s nature and God’s activities. We are to continually speak of the goodness and kindness of God. When we do this, we help bring God into focus for others.
Verse one also tells us to have God’s praise continually in our mouths. Praise is happily giving the credit to God for what just happened in your life. When good things happen, praise God for His intervention and blessings! When seemingly bad things happen, praise God that He is in control, and that He has promised that He can make all things work together to a good result for those who love Him! As we praise God for the things He does for us everyday, others’ attention is drawn to the fact that they just experienced an intervention of God. It brings God’s reality and daily activities into focus, so that others can realize that our God lives, acts, and intervenes on our behalf!
One other way we can bring God into focus is by making God that which we boast about. In verse two the psalmist says that his soul shall boast in the Lord, and other people who recognize their own need for God, will hear of his dependence upon God and be glad themselves. When people come to understand that God is the reason for any success we have, the source of our blessings, the source of our wisdom, and the sustainer of our lives, then God will be brought into focus in their consciousness as well. Others may not respond by embracing our God, but they will find it difficult to deny that God is real and active in our lives!
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the privilege and responsibility to help bring God into focus for others. We can do this by continually saying good things about our God who is always so good in His dealings with us, by giving God the praise and credit for His interventions and blessings in our lives, and by making it obvious that God is the most important person in our lives. As we do this, God is magnified and brought into focus, and it is easier for everyone to see God and His activities in the daily experiences of our lives! Magnify the LORD!
In Psalm 34:3, the psalmist says, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (NAS) There are many people in this world who only see a blur when they are looking for God. They can’t find Him in the midst of life’s difficulties, or among the myriad of things flooding their view. That is why it is important for those who know God to help magnify the Lord! It is not that God is too small for people to see. It is that they can’t focus enough to cut out the flood of superfluous images that make it hard for them to see God. Thus, one of our tasks as Christians is to help bring God into focus for others, so that they can see Him, come to believe in Him, and thus gain the wonderful benefits of living life in relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to adjust the focus on the binoculars, and hand them to those who do not know Jesus, that they might get a glimpse of the God they are missing.
The psalmist’s prayer was that God would be magnified through his life. How do we magnify God for others, or bring God into focus so that others can see Him? We find the answers in verses one and two of the 34th Psalm. In verse one we are instructed to bless the LORD at all times. To bless means to “speak well about” someone, to speak good things about the person. Thus at all times we are to speak well of God and point out the good things about God’s nature and God’s activities. We are to continually speak of the goodness and kindness of God. When we do this, we help bring God into focus for others.
Verse one also tells us to have God’s praise continually in our mouths. Praise is happily giving the credit to God for what just happened in your life. When good things happen, praise God for His intervention and blessings! When seemingly bad things happen, praise God that He is in control, and that He has promised that He can make all things work together to a good result for those who love Him! As we praise God for the things He does for us everyday, others’ attention is drawn to the fact that they just experienced an intervention of God. It brings God’s reality and daily activities into focus, so that others can realize that our God lives, acts, and intervenes on our behalf!
One other way we can bring God into focus is by making God that which we boast about. In verse two the psalmist says that his soul shall boast in the Lord, and other people who recognize their own need for God, will hear of his dependence upon God and be glad themselves. When people come to understand that God is the reason for any success we have, the source of our blessings, the source of our wisdom, and the sustainer of our lives, then God will be brought into focus in their consciousness as well. Others may not respond by embracing our God, but they will find it difficult to deny that God is real and active in our lives!
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the privilege and responsibility to help bring God into focus for others. We can do this by continually saying good things about our God who is always so good in His dealings with us, by giving God the praise and credit for His interventions and blessings in our lives, and by making it obvious that God is the most important person in our lives. As we do this, God is magnified and brought into focus, and it is easier for everyone to see God and His activities in the daily experiences of our lives! Magnify the LORD!
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