How many of us throughout our lives ever tried to imagine what God looks like? Do you think of the Sistine Chapel? Maybe you see the statue of Zeus, or maybe some may even think of George Burns or Morgan Freeman. While none of these truly represent who God is or what he may look like, they do represent an image.
They give us a starting point if you will. A point of reference that allows us to have some concept of our Living God. When the artist Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, he and Pope Julius II had gotten into a lengthy and heated argument over a visible symbol of God being painted on the ceiling. Why? Because the pope feared that people would associate this image as to what God really looks like, and begin to worship the painting rather than the real God.
In our reading about the Colossians, we see a church that is wondering who Jesus is and who God is. We see a church contemplating whether Jesus is truly the physical representation of God or a prophet who was sent to show us how much God is a part of us.
One of the interesting things about Paul’s letter to the Colossians is the fact that Paul had yet to even visit Colossae. This wasn’t a Paulian Church per se it was started by a man name Epaphras.
So here is Paul, writing their church to tell them about the image of God through Christ. Listen to words he uses to describe Jesus,
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Col 1:15NJB
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:17 NJB
He is the head of the body, the church. Col 1:18a NJB
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. Col 1:18b NJB
In these verses Paul is telling them that Christ Jesus is not only the true living Son of God, but more over he is also God himself. In verse 15 he describes Jesus as the visible image of God, and in verse 17 says He is before all things and holds everything together. Who else but God could Jesus be in that He is the creator and sustainer for the entire world?
Paul goes on to say in verses 19 through 22 the following:
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight, (Col. 1:19-22 NKJV)
In other words, Paul is telling the Colossians that God took on the flesh of a man so that he could reconcile all the sins of the world by being sacrificed upon the cross so that we the Gentiles should come to be forgiven before God.
So what kind of image does this paint for you of our God? Do you share the same image that Paul has of God? How would have you approached the Colossians on this matter?
I know that our scripture readings for today present several different views of God. In Amos chapter 8, we see a God as the Judge of the Samaritans. He tells the Amos to go to the people namely the King Jeroboam of Israel and the chief priest Amaziah repent of all their actions.
Throughout the book of Amos we see God as a Just Judge, one who punishes those who do evil before Him, but also one who shows mercy to those who repent.
In our Gospel reading, we are given yet another totally different image of God. It is the image of God as approachable and as a teacher. We see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus taking in all that he has to tell her. In the same way we see Martha working to serve the Lord her God. Even when He rebukes Martha for her scolding of Mary, we see it done with love.
We see through Jesus, God as not only a father figure, but a friend, a teacher, and a confidante. No longer do we hide in fear of his wrath upon us. Now we can approach the throne. Now we are able to tell God how much we love Him. We are able to show Him our love for Him through worship, ministry, and devotion.
The song, “I Can Only Imagine” refrain goes... Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah or will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.
This is the picture I have of Mary at the feet of Jesus. She is so enamored and taken in by what Jesus is telling her, she can think of nothing else. At that moment, she knows she is in the presence of God himself.
Luann says that when thinks of Jesus, she pictures a man of foreign decent with long dark hair, dark eyes and a strong build. She pictures him surrounded by children who are crawling up in his lap, wanting to be held by him. And Jesus, as He picks up these children, is laughing. Not just a giggle, but his head thrown back, his eyes sparkling, laughing from deep inside himself. He is joyous to be surrounded by the innocence he created.
So what kind of images of God are present in today’s world? What is your personal view of God?
Do you see Him as your sustainer? Do you look to Him, to get you through the tough times no matter what they may be? Maybe you look at Him as the kindly old clock maker, who started the world up and now is letting the clock wind down.
There are those that think God, no longer play a role in our lives. In other words he is pretty much hands off. There are those that think He does things on a whim, that he uses us to amuse Himself.
At this time, in Colossae, there was a group of Christians who had a hard time, with the concept of a sacrificial God. They could not imagine God would ever take all the suffering of the World. They could not imagine that God would so soil himself. They came to the conclusion that Jesus was not of this earth and that he had somehow transcended reality, so that he would not have suffered the pains inflicted on him during the crucifixion.
This is why Paul was writing to them, he wanted them to know why Jesus had to make a physical sacrifice. That he had to take all the pains of the world upon his shoulders. He could not just place them on his body and not be present. He needed to physically experience the death in order to truly free us from sins.
Even today, there are those who still cannot fathom God and Jesus as one in the same yet separate. They cannot fathom the idea of God loving us so much that He would sacrifice Himself through His Son. They cannot imagine a God who is loving and peaceful, yet at time allows us to make decisions that cause others pain.
These are part of the many facets that makes God so indescribable. We know that God loves us and that He sustains us and does many marvelous things for us. However, He is also our father, and as a parent he knows our needs. Those needs include allowing them to grow as Christians so that they are stronger. They need to be tempered in their faith so to strengthen it.
God can not be defined by a description that can be placed in a box. As we grow in our faith, our image of God changes also. Remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13?
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
Just as with life, we mature in our faith. Our understanding of who God is, and what He does for us also matures.
I know there have been things in my life, situations or experiences that I have gone through which were very difficult for me. At the time I was going through them, I literally had no idea why I was in them. At the time, I was not able to understand what purpose the situations had in my life. But after God brought me through them, and looking back on some of them now, I am able to see what God was wanting me to learn. I am able to see why I went through those situations and because of them; I am stronger in my faith. I am stronger because I know that even when I am walking into darkness, God will still provide light and He will show me the way out.
I am sure that you have also had some of those moments. I imagine that if we took time and went around this room, each of you can tell a similar story of how God has brought you through a situation.
So I ask you again, what do you think of when you think of God? Does a certain image come into your mind? Or do you not necessarily have a fixed image, but rather just a feeling of peace and love? That is what I feel when I think of God. God loves us so very much. He went to the cross to prove that love to us. There is no greater love than that. He offers his peace to a world filled with chaos and confusion. It is there for us, freely given and free to be taken, no strings attached.
In closing, I would like you all to close your eyes for a moment and think about your image of God. Now, think of God, standing before you, with his arms opened wide. This is what He has to say to you, “I love you, even when you think you are unlovable. I will sustain you even when you feel you can’t go on. I will give you hope when you feel all is lost. I will pick you up when you fall, and carry you when you cannot stand. I created you in my image and one day, you will be with me for eternity and you will be perfected in my grace”.
May you all have a blessed and glory filled week. Amen.
