stellar-spire-300-webby Rex Rouis

Look around you. Can you see God? If you can’t, and I’m assuming you can’t, why do you think that is? Is it because He doesn’t exist, or is it simply because He cannot be seen? And if He does exist somewhere, why doesn’t He allow us to see Him?

God does exist. But why does He withhold Himself from our sight? What reason would He have to withhold His presence? He withholds Himself from our view so that we will make life’s decisions based not on His overpowering presence, but rather, of our own free will. In short, life is a test. A test of how we will act if we are left seemingly on our own, with no obvious eternal character to coerce us. His residual presence being the written word of God and the ever so subtle work of the Holy Spirit. Both of which can be ignored. The obvious God has made Himself not so obvious so that He can observe our actions. He is all around us, and in us; you just can’t see Him. He only seems far away and detached.

So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. (13) “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten coins and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ Luke 19:12, 13

And He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. Luke 20:9

You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away. Psalm 139:2 God’s Word Version

Recently, I had a long conversation with a wonderful Hindu man about God. He had read the Gospels and was clearly impressed with the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In the discussion we touched on many topics, including the very reason and meaning of life. At one point, he made this powerful statement:

“The universe is too great and there are far too many people in the world for me to believe that I am important enough for anyone, let alone God, to care about me. God cannot possibly care about something or someone as insignificant as me.”

When you take into account the size of the universe, and the vast number of people in the world, it is hard to disagree with him. However, let’s look at it from another perspective. What if the size of the universe was an indication, not of how insignificant we were, but rather of how infinitely significant we were?

God created this universe, and all the people that have ever lived in it, as an elaborate backdrop, one in which we, on a daily basis, are forced to make decisions concerning Him. The reason the universe is so seemingly infinite is so that you will not know (except by faith) that you are actually in God’s sphere, His ‘stage set’, if you will. Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”. There may be billions of people alive today, but there are only two individuals that really matter – God and you.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, (20) by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days….” Deuteronomy 30:19, 20

This world is big enough that, if we chose to, we could live life without God altogether. However, someday each of us will stand before Him face-to-face, and He will give us a full appraisal of our lives – all actions, thoughts, and words. Upon this appraisal, stands the quality of our eternity. The Bible says that only those, who believe on His Son and obey His commands, will live with Him in eternity, “world(s) without end.”

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. II Corinthians 5:10

“..each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. (14) If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” I Corinthians 3:13, 14, 15

We appear insignificant when we compare our lives against the vastness of the universe and the incredible number of people alive today, but as Christians we must not think like this. Rather, we should view the vastness of creation as the measure to which God has gone to provide a suitable environment for us. One in which each of us, if we choose, is able to develop a relationship with Him; a relationship that is based on faith. A faith that believes, contrary to what we see or cannot see, that He does exist, that He is good, and that He is good to His word.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible

This universe now gives us plenty of opportunity for the use of faith, and in the future it will provide plenty of room to grow. Our eternity in Him will contain worlds and realms beyond our comprehension. This is just the beginning; we are only standing on the shore.

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:21 (King James Version)

Let us live this life in anticipation of the next.

See also: Jesus Said, “Bang!” and The Deal and Everyone Dies, Everyone and Intra Muros

Comments

  1. If you look at it, the earth was made before the universe. The earth was day 1 & 3 and the stars and heavenly bodies on day 4. I think that makes the earth and its inhabitants more important to God than anything else

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