How do we know what God looks like? How do we know what God is like? These questions are often on our hearts and minds. And they are certainly on the hearts and minds of others who are trying to make their way through the labyrinth of life.
As we examine faith, specifically our own faith, we must concede that faith is a belief and confidence in something we cannot fully grasp, and probably cannot see. So we feel we must be content in accepting that we believe in God even though we think we can never see God.
But the author of Hebrews gives us a plain example of God and Jesus. Who is Jesus? What does Jesus do?
Jesus came to earth as a human being, the Son of God, appearing in human form – completely human and also completely holy. He came so that we might be saved from sin; that is certain. But he came also so that we might see God.
Jesus is the physical representation of God. Through the kindness and mercy, the miraculous works, the compassion that was expressed by Jesus we can see who God is. Jesus acted out the love of God – caring and sacrificial, all-encompassing. God’s love is that way.
Jesus came as a reflection of God. He came so that we might be able to comprehend God, to see what God is like in terms we can cope with.
Through the word of Christ, the teaching and lessons, Jesus holds all the things about God together in ways that we can see and experience. When we look at who Jesus is we see who God is.
And now we must see that we are supposed to be like Jesus. If Jesus shows the love of God, shines grace and mercy like a blinding light in a darkened world, then we also are to shine that light of love. If Jesus loved all people – the good, the bad, the saints and the sinner – it was because God loves all people. And we are to love all people.
As Jesus reflects the love and light of God, we are to reflect the love and light of Christ. In so doing we are shining the light of hope and grace that comes from God, shining it on those who live in the darkness of ignorance and sin and hopelessness.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What do you do that reflects Jesus?
