One of the more difficult catechism questions for my daughter was, “Does God have a body like ours?” Which answers, “No, God is a Spirit, infinite and eternal.” Imagine trying to explain to a three-year old why having a body would limit an infinite God. He does not have eyes, but he sees all things. He does not have arms, but his reach is not too short to save! Not only that, how does someone know God who is Spirit, infinite and eternal?
Some people take spiritual retreats to a special nature-spot to connect with God. Seeing God’s revelation of glory in creation certainly should provoke wonder and praise. Yet, God has given something greater. He has revealed himself through a Son – Jesus Christ. This revelation is not simply for conversion, but for our sanctification and joy.
“And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another. For this comes form the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Bible gives us instruction about how this works out for Christians. This “one degree of glory to another” is the progression to what Paul explains later in 4:6, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The glory of the face of Christ shines in the heart of Christians, growing us in his image until we see him as he fully is. As 1 John 3:2 reads, “We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” It is the person of Jesus Christ revealed in Scripture that displays the glory of God and grows us into his likeness. So then, the impulse of Christians should not be to simply look for their favorite nature spot to re-connect with God. We should look to Christ, the fulness of our joy and the hope of glory.
John Starke works on staff at the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and blogs at John Ploughman. He and his wife Jena have three children.
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The daily scripture and devotions is much more a motivation for my everyday living…I can’t do without reading it every morning,it makes my day fulfilled…