What is God like? The answer to this question will help us understand His
nature and His disposition; this will enable us to determine what we can expect
from Him. John the Apostle clearly states, “God is love. This is how God showed
His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might
live through Him” (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8b-9). Love that is not expressed and
then not actually demonstrated is not love at all. Jesus is God’s ultimate way
to express His love for us, and for us to “see God” in a way that we can
understand Him.
Jesus is God’s ultimate way of communicating
with us. First, we want to look at how God demonstrates His divine power and
goodness. David declares in Psalm 19 that nature itself is a witness for God:
“The heavens … the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they
pour forth speech … they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no
words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the
earth, their words to the ends of the earth.” Nature declares God’s wisdom,
power and goodness. Nature’s witness is understandable to everyone. God’s
goodness is displayed by His placing all the resources on the earth that we
need.
Scripture tells us that God has spoken to
humanity throughout our entire history. Hebrews 1:1 tells us, “In the past God
spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in many ways, but
in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son.” God spoke to Adam and
Eve in the garden, to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and through His prophets. God spoke
by dreams, visions and through angels. He has most directly spoken to us
through Jesus. Jesus tells us, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John
14:9). If you have heard me, you have heard the Father (John 12:49).
I encourage you to read the gospels and let
Jesus help you see and hear what God would say to you.
Rev. Ray Martin
Retired
Great Trail Church of God, Minerva
