J08 I just can't see it

1 Timothy 1:17: "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever."

Augustine: (1) "At the time when He appeared visibly to bodily eyes, he promised that His invisible being also would be seen by the clean of heart. 'He that loves me shall be loved of the Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.' It is certain that this nature of His, which He shares with the Father, is equally as invisible as it is equally incorruptible."

Reflection: I confess, I get nothing out of watching a baseball game. Having no interest in it, I have not bothered to learn anything about it, and when I must attend one, I am amazed at the reaction of the fans to activities on the field. The aficionados see things I can not see --indeed, things in which I have neither understanding nor inclination to appreciate. "Nyeh..."

So it is with God and the unbeliever. Not having been washed in the blood, regenerated in the Spirit, given eyes to see and ears to hear, he is like me at the ball field. How then can I expect the lost to share my wonder, my hope? Even when I testify to the incredible things God has done for me, the precious change wrought in me by my Saviour, the empowerment by His Spirit. "Nyeh..."

Yet, as disinterested as they may be, it often happens that these same unbelievers are convinced that (if) there is a heaven, they will get in! Not interested in knowing God in this life, it would be so unfair of God not to want them in the next!

Praise God! Not a day passes , and rarely an hour, that He does not show Himself to me -- at times just a glimpse, at others, a good long look!

My prayer today: Dear Father God, how generous you are to let us catch sight of you in our everyday existence! The wonder! The beauty of what you have given us! Open our eyes to an awareness of your omnipresence. I am never alone. You are with me, and you never hesitate to remind me. Thank you, thank you.

(1) "Letters 147.19.48," IVP Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT X, pg 147, Gorday, Ed.

11/16/2018, 8/22/2024