A commonly asked question: if God is real then why does He not make Himself more obvious?
Why can we not see Him?
The Bible gives us at least 3 good reasons:
- The Problem of Essence - Who He is
- The Problem of Ethic - What He is
- The Problem of Eternity - Where He is
The Problem of Essence - Who He is
Man is Unable to See God
God is in Essence, in Himself invisible :
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (Col 1:15)
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. " (1Ti 1:17)
That is, He is not in Himself perceptible by the natural senses.
This ought not to greatly surprise us that the God who created the Universe and gave us senses to perceive the creation Himself lies out with the range of those senses designed for perception of the created universe. This is really simply another way of say that the Creator is greater than the creation.
Human sense regularly reaches edge of its perceptive capacity within creation itself. The eye is unable to perceive ultraviolet light and infrared light and the ear is unable to detect ultrasound.
The Problem of Ethic - What He is :
Man is Unsuitable to See God
Not only do we lack the natural capacity to perceive God but we also lack the personal suitability for the perception of God. It is said that over the years that some over enthusiastic astronomers have blinded themselves by gazing with their telescopes, unshaded, at the sun. The brightness of the sun burns out their retina blinding them, at times permanently. Man is not only unable to see God but man is unsuitable to see God:
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isa 59:2)
"And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God." (Jdg 13:22)
The Problem of Eternity - Where He is
Man is in the wrong environment to see God
As human beings in a finite universe we are familiar with seeing, touching, tasting, hearing and smelling objects within that Universe. These objects and phenomena are products of that universe in which we ourselves exist. The computer screen on which you read this blog is constructed of material elements such as metal and plastics and is driven by physical processes giving off signals perceptible to the human eye. God however is not a product of the universe He is the producer of the universe. The universe itself is not sufficient to contain Him for the purposes of perception:
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (1Ki 8:27)
The space time relationship between God and the Universe is different from that of material objects which are the product of that universe. God is not so much contained within the universe but rather the universe is contained within God:
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." (Act 17:28)
The universe was created into an omnipresent Christ:
"For in him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
(Col 1:16)
Putting it simply; where would we put God to see Him?
Is it possible then for man to know His creator?
The subject of the next blog:
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (Joh 1:18)
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2Co 4:6)
Yours in Christ
Stewart
MP3 downloads of messages preached on many Bible subjects are freely available at:
www.newcumnock.org
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