The phrase “Seeing is Believing” is often used when we want to test the credibility of what is being claimed, so how does this apply to a God you cannot see?
Romans 1:18-25
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
For most of us, it is not until we see something that it becomes a reality. We throw ingredients together and bake and when we see the cake rising we know it is a success. We may plan to build a new house, but it isn’t until the foundation is poured and the bricks are going up does the actuality sink in.
There is nothing wrong with this view of the world. It is what we have our senses for, to experience the reality we live in.
So how can we experience the reality of God who is invisible and often times inaudible?
It is about becoming attuned to the clues. In this passage we see that God has left evidence of Himself everywhere in the world around us. But we may see these clues and still not see Him. Wickedness dims our eyes. In our hearts we would like something to worship and glorify, but our sinful nature makes us stop short at just the clues and worship them instead.
The living world around is fascinating, the subject of many documentaries. But if all we do is marvel at the abilities of turtles to find their way home and bears to pluck fish out of rapids, then we have fallen short of the true glory of the Creator. Even we, ourselves, in our amazing humanity, with our ability to learn, invent, and create can so easily put humanity on the pedestal and give glory to our learned, inventors, entertainers, and artists without realising the creative Immortal behind it all.
It is time really to see our world like a trained tracker looking for the steps of one who made and walked this Earth.
Head: The passage mentions the truth about God. Can you look around you and see something wonderful, some amazing creation? It may be your pet, a windowsill plant, or even the sun or moon in the sky – and consider how they might be the clues that God is real?
Heart: Verse 21 gives a bit of insight into the state of a heart that doesn’t see God. It neither glorifies Him as God, nor gives thanks to Him. It is telling that not being grateful is a way of denying God’s reality. Are there times today when you can stop and give thanks?
Hands: The passage talks about worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator. What in your day looks like this? Is it rushing out of the door without praying? Eating food without giving thanks? Getting angry at a fellow driver or passenger because they made you late? How could you turn this around so that at that moment, you can serve the Creator?
Prayer: Dear God, help me to see you more, help me to realise how things around me point to You, and help me to live my life in the knowledge that You are always there. Amen.
A song to listen to: CS Lewis Song – Brooke Fraser
Nicole Davenport- Creek Road Presbyterian Church- Carina
