How to See an Invisible God

1 John 4:12-13 

Herein lies a terribly awesome knowledge. The world cannot see God. He is invisible. Therefore, the the unbeliever's best view of God will be through your life.  

If you are a loving father, the world will see God as a protector and provider. If you are a loving mother, the world will see God as a nurturer and healer. If you do something nice for someone who has only ever been mean to you, they will see God as forgiving, ready to receive anyone.  

Think of the image unbelievers have of God. They can't see Him. They don't read the Bible. They maybe see Him and His people portrayed in Hollywood, but that's rarely anywhere in the ballpark of who He actually is or who believers should be. They might see picketers with signs that say "God hates fags," which is most certainly not held by a true believer, but they don't know that.  

It's you. The only correct image of God ever to be seen is through you.  

"If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us."  

But this verse is followed by another.  

"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." 

I think if were to sum up the entire problem with Christians it is this: We have accepted that God abides in us, but we have forgotten entirely that we must also abide in Him. 

What does abide mean? It means to dwell. It refers to a "oneness." Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  (John 15:5) 

The picture Jesus gave us of abiding was literally a branch receiving all of its needed nutrition from the vine. Nothing can come between a branch and a vine or the branch will fall away and die. And remember, these two passages are by the same author.  

The love of God is perfected in us WHEN we love. We know that God abides in us WHEN we are abiding in Him. If we are caught in a web of sin, if we are slow to love and quick to hate, then obviously there is no abiding.  

The branch does not receive poison from the vine. Just the same,  we do not receive addiction to sin from abiding in God.  

But let me end on a good note. Look at the wonderful opportunity Christ has given us. Not only are we privileged with the ability to abide in God and receive His perfect love and have that love perfected in us, BUT we are also sent as messengers to show the world such great love. Think of all the tasks God could have given us to do on this earth. 

He gave us love.