Seeing God

When I was a little boy and learned to read I set out on my first journey through Scripture.  There was much I did not understand as is still the case.  But I clearly remember getting to Exodus 24 and was amazed that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders of Israel saw God.  Verse 9 says, they “saw the God of Israel.  Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.”   I was so envious.  I wanted to do that.  I had been told in Bible class no one could see God, but there it was.

About a year later I got to Colossians 2:9.  Paul wrote, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”   When I finished reading the Gospels, I suddenly realized my desire had been fulfilled.   Jesus is just like God the Father.  When I read all those stories about Jesus feeding people, healing people, raising people to life and loving them I knew I had seen God.  That is what God is like.

Hooray.  God was wonderful.   He was approachable.   I continued to read and got to Hebrews 4 and learned I could come to Him boldly. I didn’t have to crawl to Him on my stomach.  He was my Father.  As I continued reading it just kept getting better and better.  Finally after about two years I got to Revelation 3:21 and read, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.”   Now that I am an old man I am still just as thrilled by this thought as I was as a boy.

Do you want to see God?  Read the Gospels.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 21, 2009

Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

rogerbothwell.org