A recent story surfaced of a kindergarten teacher who gave her students a drawing assignment. She looked over the class and saw one little girl working diligently. As she walked by her desk she asked, “And what are you drawing?” The little girl responded, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher paused and then said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without looking up she winsomely responded, “They will in a minute.”
We live in a world with competing views of God. Some see Him as angry and ready to judge. Others see Him as a grandfather that just wants us to have a good time. Others see Him as distant and unconcerned about our circumstances. Others view Him as weak and unable to help, anyway. Paul walked into Athens and said, “…the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23, NKJ).
God has revealed Himself to us through creation. The Bible says, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20, NLT).
He has revealed Himself through the miraculous acts in the Bible. He is a God of compassion and mercy. He brought the nation of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. The Lord declared, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4, NIV).
He has revealed Himself through His judgments, as well. He knows when the hearts of people are beyond the point of repentance. His judgment was felt in the days of Noah when God flooded the world to begin again. The story of the flood is introduced with the words, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, NKJ).
The greatest revelation of God came through His Son, Jesus Christ. We see what God is like when God Himself became a man. John calls Jesus the Word in John 1:1. He then proclaims, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NIV). Grace means He is ready to forgive and save. Truth means there is a standard of right and wrong. The extent of His love is seen on the cross where God Himself died for us.
Since Christ lives in believers, we now have the privilege of showing people what God is like. The devoted follower of Jesus Christ aspires to flesh God out to the world. Through our words and deeds, the on-looking world should catch a glimpse of God’s nature in us every day.