Is there a God? That ultimate existential question is so integral to our human experience. Its importance looms large, yet remains deeply shrouded behind a veil of mystery, quietly humming away in our collective subconscious as our lives march on. It's without a doubt the one thing we humans truly have in common. Down throughout history and all across religious and social systems - this deep yearning remains, to move past the unknown and into the knowing.
Us believers say we know, but how much do we really? The Apostle Paul noted it perfectly: "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist." To me that sounds like, maybe 35% vision at best? I find it a fascinating and honest observation from Christianity's first and most influential writer and leader. His authentic words seem to reveal the human side of the saint (and I love that).
As for me, I'm not writing as a skeptic or worse, a cynic, but just one who always seems to walk a path of belief - but with so many questions.
I want to know the whys.
Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? Why does God seem so distant (and quiet)? How does our own free will come into play? Is it nurture or nature? How do our beliefs interact with science? What does God really expect from us? How do we get closer to Him and fully realize His presence?
Faith is the starting point, but then what?
In our early Christian zeal, we devour scriptures and we worship fervently. We engage in community by doing church. And in this early rebirth, the whats really do seem to matter. We feel the need to validate our new experience for nearby skeptics, by looking for more evidence to back up our belief system. Is there a God is the faith part, accompanied by a certain tension. But let's set that aside for now. For me, the next question is more essential:
What is God like?
Not so much the whys or the whats, but - the Who. I think it's always helpful to remember we are relational beings seeking an equally relational God (because He is our Father)! And just as we devote our life to getting to know a best friend, an important family member, or a spouse - in this same way it's crucial that we get to know our God.
So back to the 35%. The fog is a real obstacle for us to “see things clearly,” but a much better goal is to KNOW Him clearly! What's He like? What are His goals with us? What are His methods for reaching out to you and me, and for training us, as a good Father would?
This goes well beyond seeking (and sometimes arguing about) head knowledge and ideas from Christian influencers, to pressing into God's relational heart. From slicing, dicing and mincing historical words on paper to personally developing a connection with Abba. Is there a God, seems frankly, a moot point when we are living in His presence and learning from Him.
But serious roadblocks are in the way - guilt, fear and shame!
Let's toss them aside (continually) and expand our thinking about the relational similarities we share with our Father and Creator - remember “in His image?” We are his offspring and we are always connected. He gives us access to all the fruits of His Spirit, even though we may not yet have mastered them. And we share so many other traits - like creativity and humor.
A few months ago I was in a funk and feeling like the Lord was distant. I started a mini-rant at Him with “Where are you?” and “Why don't you ever talk to me?” (Thank God) he has a sense of humor as he reminded me of a classic Seinfeld scene where George Constanza's girlfriend was trying to break up with him in a nice way. She offered the classic “It's not you, it's me,” line.
And The Lord humbly sayeth to me: “It's not me, it's you.” And then, in a classic Jewish mother voice: “How come you never call?” Who knew God does stand-up? And by the way, most of the time it IS us!
He doesn't want a long-distance relationship.
One final idea about God's mystery: Honestly, we humans abhor boredom and I'm guessing it's good that we still have so much to discover about our God, with His ideas and strategies for coaxing us closer. And maybe like a good Father and Friend, He sometimes keeps His distance for a bit so we can, in the vacuum, finally figure something out and really own it.
Let's continue to seek, to knock and new doors will open. But let's stay personal. Sit with Him, walk with Him. Cry and laugh with Him.
And little by little as we know Him better, the Whys and the Whats will come into sharp focus. Because the Who has always been there, by our side, and every step of the way.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Message
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
About the Author
Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.
He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.