Seeing God

When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).

Why can’t we see God? He’s with us constantly. He touches and maintains every corner of the universe. So why does it often seem as if God is nowhere to be found?

The problem lies with us. Although God and His angels are constantly at work everywhere, sin keeps us from seeing it. We come through a serious accident with only a few cuts and bruises, and say that we’re lucky to be alive. After countless bad dates, we find the person of our dreams and say that sooner or later the right one was bound to come along. People see incredible things happen in their lives, and mark it down to coincidence or serendipity or good karma from living right. What they don’t see is the hand of God showering them with His love.

Sin also makes us deaf. The Bible is God’s message, preserved on paper so it can be read to people in every time and every place. Through the words of Scripture, our heavenly Father speaks to us—but like naughty children, we tune Him out and don’t pay attention. We don’t want to hear criticism for our wrongdoing; we don’t have the patience to sit and listen and learn. God talks to us constantly, but we’ve learned to ignore religious plaques on the wall, religious bumper stickers on cars, religious messages on the radio or TV.

As much as we ignore God, it’s little wonder that we feel abandoned and alone. He is constantly talking to us; He performs miracle after miracle. But sin makes us deaf and blind. Sin hides God from our perception.

In Jesus, God came and walked among us—but even then people could not see what was right in front of them. They could not accept the truth of His words. Their blindness led to His death on the cross. Their deafness wouldn’t accept the testimony of all the men and women who saw Him alive on Easter and heard Him over the 40 days that followed.

Jesus said, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29). For now, We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But Jesus is coming back, and when He comes down from heaven in all His glory, the Lord will give us eyes like His, eyes that can see the truth. At that time, we will finally see Him as He is.