God With Us
It is difficult to wrap our minds around the concept of God.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NKJV
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
- Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
-1 Kings 18:27 NKJV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
- Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV
It boggles my mind that such a powerful being, the most powerful being in existence desires to be with me. Sometimes I’m not even sure I enjoy my own company. Yet God desires to be with us. God made this very clear from creation!
In the beginning
Genesis 1-2 tells us the story of creation. (I have an entire post dedicated to it entitled In the Beginning) Interestingly God concludes the creation week not with the creation of humankind, but with the creation of sacred time.
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV
We established earlier that God does not faint or grow weary (Isaiah 40:28). Adam and Eve, the first humans, were created on the sixth day of creation and I doubt they would need rest the very next day. If the 7th day of creation was not created due to God or human being tired then why did God create it? I believe that God was teaching us about priorities and goals. We were not created to work for God, though work is good and beneficial, it is not our reason for existing. God created us because He wanted to enjoy our company, He wanted to be with us. So the very first day after the whole world is made, the 7th day of the creation week, God established a period of rest for us to enjoy spending quality time with Him.
Picture in your mind, the God of the universe hanging out with Adam and Eve, interested in their day, answering their questions, walking together, laughing together… Imagine God happy to be spending time with His creatures, imagine God wanting to be with us. I strongly believe that God rested, blessed, and sanctified the seventh day of creation because relationships are worth more to Him than work. God did not make us earn or work for our rest, for His time and attention. Quite the opposite, the very next day after humans were created God stops working in order to spend time with us.
God was showing us that He values our presence, that rest is important, and that relationships are worthwhile.
After the fall
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:8 NKJV
After the fall we read a description of God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. This text once again demonstrates God’s desire to be with us, to spend time with humanity. The problem is that after disobeying God Adam and Eve now experience fear and shame and a desire to hide from God. But God does not abandon them.
God is also a righteous judge and must follow through with the consequences of sin. However, in the midst of the judgment, God also includes a promise that provides humanity with hope.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
- Genesis 3:15 NKJV
I have an entire post dedicated to this entitled somOne is coming. God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush (שׁוּף) the head of the serpent. Humanity would suffer the consequences of sin and rebellion against God but we would not be abandoned, we would not be left without hope. God had a plan in place, God would send someOne to defeat Satan. When humanity was naked (Genesis 3:7) God clothes them with skin (Genesis 3:21). From the beginning, God provided for humanity, even though a sacrifice had to be made so that our nakedness would be covered.
God cares
Genesis 4 tells the story of Cain and Abel and demonstrates God’s care once again. When Cain was angry, God spoke to him. Before Cain did anything wrong, God spoke to him. Cain was not seeking God, but God sought out Cain.
So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
- Genesis 4:6-7 NKJV
I have two posts that cover this story The Heart of the Worshiper and My Brother’s Keeper. Here I see once again God’s desire to guide and influence and help and keep us from hurting ourselves and those around us. Cain is the bad guy, he kills his brother, yet God comes to him before and after the fact (Genesis 4:9-15). Cain has to suffer the consequences of his sin, however, God does not abandon him, Cain is the one who disregards God’s plan for his life.
Grace
The Bible consistently portrays God as watching over all the earth. In Genesis 6 we have God bringing judgment on a wicked world, but in this context of judgment, we also have the first occurrence of the word for grace! I have two posts dealing with these themes Judgment and Grace and Mabbuwl - The Great Flood. Repeatedly we have God coming to humanity to judge, to save, to guide. The Bible tells the story of God in search of humanity. We do not go up to God (see post on Tower of Babel) but rather God comes down to us (see Called by God)!
Tabernacle
For the sake of brevity let us skip forward to Exodus 25.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
- Exodus 25:8-9 NKJV
The Hebrew word used for tabernacle here is מִשְׁכָּן and it means dwelling place or habitation. God wanted to dwell among His people. God had them build Him a tent, not that He needed it to protect Him from the elements, but rather that His people could learn more about Him. I still want to write a whole post or series on the tabernacle and its furnishings because it all points to Jesus and the plan of salvation. God was revealing to His people in a visible and tangible way how the Messiah would come and save them.
Quick Overview
God calls Moses from a burning bush (Exodus 3),
God raises up judges to lead and deliver Israel ( the entire book of Judges).
God calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3, Hearing the Voice of God)
God chooses David to be king (1 Samuel 16 Heart Matter)
Notice how God initiates all these interactions. God saves, provides, calls, God is interested in us, He wants to be with us. God sends prophets and visions and dreams to guide us, to help us avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.
Mystery of Incarnation
Finally, Jesus came to be born as one of us.
It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin.
- The Desire of Ages p48
I love this quote because it gives my sense of perspective. All I have ever known is life as a human in a fallen world. So for me, the idea of becoming a human does not seem to be too big of a deal. That is because my mind cannot comprehend what it means to be God. But even among humans, we differentiate. Many of us would not be very willing to be born into a poorer family in a poorer country. How willing would you be to be born of an unwed mother in the poorest country in the world? What if you had to live there for 33 years without access to any of the comforts you take for granted. Then in the end you will be killed by them, but some of them will be saved by your sacrifice. We bulk at the notions of a lifetime of suffering punctuated by rejection, but how often do we take the incarnation of Jesus for granted?
We are so spoiled we deny God when it causes us mild discomfort. At work, among classmates, in our neighborhood, how often do we try to hide the fact that we believe in God? We go out to eat and feel uncomfortable thanking God for the food we are about to eat? Something comes up on the Sabbath and we think “God understands.” I believe He does, I also believe we are the ones who fail to understand.
We get so used to God making all the sacrifices for us, we take it for granted, not wanting to think too much about it lest its reality and implications make us uncomfortable. God gave all, and we are willing to follow Him, so long as it does not make us uncomfortable.
The Bible makes it clear that God wants to and values spending time with me. And I am willing to spend time with Him, as long as I don't have anything going on at school, or work, or any celebrations (anniversaries, birthdays, holidays…), as long as I am not too tired, or have a slight headache. I’m willing to come together for prayer and worship, if the weather is nice and if my friends will be there.
Here in the United States, I have seen pictures of fans packed in stadiums, when it is raining or snowing, cheering for their favorite team. The fans show up wearing their team’s merchandise, hats, shirts, jackets, scarves, hats, they want everyone to know whose side they are on. They are proud and excited. They show up for the game and consider it a privilege. They could watch it from the comfort of their home and even be able to better see the game. Yet they freely choose to be there, in the cold, just to be present with others who have the same values. Fans show up even for teams who have not won the tournament in years. Isn’t it amazing that year after year a team can lose and still have fans? I have witnessed people stop believing in God when He does not answer their prayer fast enough or the way they had anticipated.
This Christmas season we celebrate the birth of Jesus. God becoming one of us. Can we take a moment to wrap our minds around what this means? The length that God is willing to go to save us, to reach us, to communicate His love for us is mind-boggling! And what is our response?
A Dangerous Religiosity?
The Jewish leaders rehearsed their meaningless prayers and performed the rites of worship to be seen by others, but in their strife for riches and worldly honor, they were not prepared for the revelation of the Messiah. The problem is that this same indifference pervaded the land of Israel. Imagine all of heaven thrilled at the birth of Jesus, while here on earth selfish and world-engrossed hearts were untouched by that joy. Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen. Only a few shepherds, who were abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. To these heaven’s embassy was sent.
Think about this, the great majority of people on earth were oblivious to what was happening, but the tidings fill heaven with rejoicing. With great interest, the holy beings from the world of light are drawn to the earth. The whole world is brighter for the presence of God. Above the hills of Bethlehem are gathered an innumerable throng of angels. They wait for the signal to declare the glad news to the world. Had the leaders in Israel been true to their trust, they might have shared the joy of heralding the birth of Jesus. But now they were passed by.
Imagine the event everyone had been waiting for since the fall is taking place and the “church” misses it because the leaders were too concerned with earthly power and influence. The religious leaders missed it and so did most people. They God so caught up with playing church they missed the point. I know they were not really a church like we have today, but I believe it was the equivalent of the modern church. These were men women who had access to the word of God but failed to seek God. Religion became an instrument to control people, a way to gain power and influence and accumulate wealth, meanwhile they lost sight of the spiritual truths.
Second Coming
Jesus came the first time, but He is coming again.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
-John 14:1-3 NKJVNow when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
- Acts 1:9-11 NKJVBehold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
- Revelation 1:7 NKJVFor whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
- Mark 8:38 NKJV
Are we in danger of missing the second coming of Jesus just like the Jews missed the first coming of Jesus? The second coming will be very different, so I do not mean we are in danger of missing it in the sense of not knowing it took place, but rather in danger of not being prepared for it. Allow me to explain.
The Jews missed the first coming because their focus was elsewhere. The religious leaders especially lost sight of what the religious rites taught and pointed to. Are we in danger of going through the motions but missing the point?
Are we in danger of making religion just about discipline and acts of service? Just about adherence to a moral code and behavioral code while missing the relationship with God?
I strongly believe that the right religious behavior can aid us in our spiritual growth, but religiosity cannot replace spirituality. In other words, church attendance and especially church involvement ought to nurture spiritual growth. At my church, I want to foster an environment where everyone can be encouraged, equipped, and challenged to do what God has called them to do. I want everyone to have a real and vibrant personal relationship with God.
This way, we can be like the shepherds the night that Jesus was born. They were caring for their sheep but their hearts longed for the coming of the Messiah. They desired to be with God, they longed to have God with them. Their relationship with God was not one made up of only outward religious practices, but a personal and intimate loving relationship.
God desires to be with us.
The only question is whether we desire to be with Him.
I do not know when Jesus will come for the second time. But I can’t wait for Him to come. I strongly believe that as I live my life in eager anticipation of His coming, it does not matter when He comes, I will be ready and glad at His glorious appearing. Because I know that He longs to be with me, I can daily seek Him and His will for my life, gladly surrendering my plans to His will, desiring that His kingdom come and that His will be done.
God’s desire to be with us should not be simply a theological truth stored in the back of our heads, but rather the great truth that shapes our lives.
If Jesus was willing to be born of a virgin and placed in a manger, if Jesus was willing to die for us on a cross, do you really think He would not also come again to take us to be with Him?
It boggles my mind that the God of the universe would desire to be with me, but it makes perfect sense that I should desire to be with Him.
What about you? Do you desire to invite Jesus into your heart today?
Do you wish to join me in looking forward to His second coming?
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
- Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV
