Seeing God.

"No one has ever seen God."  John 1:18a (NRSV)

"In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." Ezekiel 1:1 (NRSV)

"As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothes were white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool."  Daniel 7:9 (NRSV)

These are just two examples of people who have seen God.

But "It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known."  John 1:18b (NRSV)

And "'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.'"  1 Corinthians 2:9 (NRSV) (Paraphrasing Isaiah 64:4)

And "'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.'"  Matthew 5:8 (NRSV)

What could this mean?

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

Could it be that God reveals Himself to those who are pure in heart - like Jesus - those who love Him?

When I was about three years old I saw a vision of God:

He was white as snow and clothed in light.

A mature man with long white hair and beard and sitting on a throne - like the Ancient of Days.

And there was no fear - as if fear had never been conceived.

And He was speaking to me.

But I did not understand the language He was speaking.
It was all breath - the Breath of Life.

Later I discovered that one of the Jewish names for God is all aspirates - Hs - Like the Breath.

And so I am blessed.

But this is not a boast.

It is merely a statement of fact.

Perhaps God has chosen me to reveal His true nature to humanity.

And this nature is pure Love.

There is no wrath, no judgement, no vengeance in God.

He loves us like a Father.

And He loves us like our mother.

"Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God, he has seen the Father."  John 6:46 (NRSV)

And when I thought "Perhaps God punishes no one"  a voice said: "Someone has seen me."

No one means no one.

And that includes evildoers and apostates.

The only reason that words of vengeance and violence appear in the Bible is because those who wrote them were filled with fear - they could not conceive of a God without vengeance.

But God reveals Himself to those who love.

And so the true path to God is the Shamma:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."

"And love your neighbor as yourself."

These are the first and second commandments.

And Jesus' commandment is that we should love one another as he loved us.

Then you may see God.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: Thoughts on Books.