Chips, Salsa and a Picture of God

 

 

 

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

Job 42:5

 

 

I sat trying to restrain myself from the bowl of chips and salsa when it happened.   She poked my arm and looked up at me proclaiming, “This is a picture of God.”  My four-year-old niece proudly held up her crayon drawing-- a large squiggly circle surrounded two odd-shaped, bulging eyes.   Speechless, for a moment, I thought about the holiness of The Most High God sitting on the eternal throne and the fact that no one has ever seen Him.  I knew the ancient Jews reverently hesitated to even write His name.  Yet, there she sat, smiling from ear to ear; and I believe God must have been smiling too.   “Oh, Ann Claire I know God must be so happy that you were thinking enough about Him to draw a picture of Him.  I bet you made Him smile.” She seemed satisfied with my response, but I have thought about her picture for days.

 

I think we all draw pictures of God.  Though many have given Him so little thought; their pictures are quite featureless.  Some base pictures on the few words heard about Him long ago in a Sunday school class or VBS.  Some base pictures on totally false information.   For many, their pictures are just copies of what others have told them their pictures should look like.   But what about you?  What does your picture look like? 

 

No one has seen Him, yet God’s desire is to reveal Himself to us.  How much thought have you given the God of the Universe, your Creator?  Do you desire to know Him? Do you search the Scriptures for the minutest details of His character?   Is He smiling in your picture? Or is He angry?  Are His arms wide open?   Is He laughing?  Is He far removed from you or are you walking arm and arm, talking about everything?  Do His eyes twinkle with a sense of humor (as when He called Samuel (I Sam 3))?  Is He strong, even fearsome but still approachable? Is He fortress and Father?  Is He completely loving and all good, yet simultaneously the Righteous Judge?   Does He hold you close even when you don’t understand Him (as Gideon asked in Judges 6:13, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?”) or does He turn His back and leave you alone?   Is your picture black and white or full of color and endless, unfathomable detail?   Is He your friend who is closer than a brother?  Even though you have not seen Him, can you exclaim with your heart as Job did, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (42:5)? 

 

Oh friend, what does your picture of God look like?  Is it based on truth from His Word and revelation of the Holy Spirit; or do you rely only on what you occasionally hear or faint recollections from long ago? Do you daily seek to add to your painting?  Do you delight in His revelations of Himself?   Do praise songs flood your heart with images you have painted of Him?   Oh yes, He is indescribable and our artwork never complete!   Truly “He is beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words, too wonderful for comprehension.  Like nothing ever seen or heard.  Who can grasp His infinite wisdom?  Who can fathom the depth of His love?  He is beautiful beyond description!  Majesty enthroned above!” (Hillsong).    Do you stand in awe of Him?  Do you really? Or have you grown bored with a religion that has never changed your life?   You were created for relationship (real relationship) with the Living God.  Turn your eyes upon Him.   Ask Him to reveal Himself.  Ask Him to open your eyes.  He will turn the darkness into light (Isa 42:16), vibrant, full of color, revealing-Himself light.   He promises if you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him. (Jer 29:13)… get your crayons ready!  The big box!

 

Prayer:  Oh Father, may our hearts never grow cold.  May we desire to daily know you better.  May we pursue you through your Word.  Help me to rise above the distractions of this life and help me to see You in this day.   Open my eyes to your infinite goodness.   Help me to praise you more.   Oh God, I know my picture of you can never contain your marvelous majesty…yet, I want to see you.   You are God with us.  Most High Amazing God with me!  Let me say in this life “my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes see you.”!  Amen.  

 

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