“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Over the past few weeks, we studied the I AM statements of Jesus as he uses earthly metaphors such as “bread”, “light”, “door”, “way”, and “vine” to help us to better know Him. It is useful for us to learn about the attributes of God and his Son Jesus. But truthfully, we will never fully comprehend who He is until we see Him face to face.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9)
I am oddly comforted by the fact that I cannot fully comprehend God. I can try to explain the Trinity, but I can’t really comprehend the fullness and perfection of the Three-In-One. By His divine nature, God is all-knowing, omni-present, and omni-powerful. I am thankful for how He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful at the same time; and although I am such a benefactor of this aspect of His perfect goodness and love, I do not have the capacity or power within myself to perfectly emulate it.
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps. 145:3)
As a human, I have a sinful nature; as a created being, I have my limits. As our Creator, God is limitless and without sin. He is simply bigger and more than my human mind can comprehend. I have a choice: I can accept this and trust Him, or I can disregard him. For me, I choose to trust His word and His promises in Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase….”
So why is this comforting? I guess it is because I know my own limitations, sins, shortcomings, and sorrows; and I am so relieved that my God, as my Creator, does not possess these same limitations, sins, and shortcomings. I know that my own disappointments and grief here on earth are temporary, and that when I finally leave this earth to spend eternity with God, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
In the meantime, we as believers have been given a great gift. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, to be with us while we reside here on earth. While we are human and do not possess in and of ourselves the attributes of God, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us to empower us to live and walk confidently and obediently with our Lord and Savior.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
In Christ,
Judy
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