Neither Accidental Nor Incidental

A kindergarten teacher was observing her class as they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. She asked one little girl, who was working very diligently, about her drawing. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But nobody knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat or looking up from her drawing, the little girl replied, “They will when I’m finished!” That’s confidence. 

Perhaps that girl was seeing something we adults can’t see quite as clearly. It is true that to see God, one must approach God not as an expert, but as a learner. We ‘experts’ like to define God rather than letting God define Himself. Sometimes God defines what He does, as in Psalm 23, where David defines God as his good Shepherd. 

Here’s the way David pictured God. 

“The Lord is my Shepherd - that's relationship. I shall not want - that's supply. He makes me lie down in green pastures - that's rest. He leads me beside still waters - that's refreshment. He restores my soul - that's healing. He leads me on paths of righteousness - that’s guidance. For His name’s sake - that’s purpose. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -  that’s testing. I will fear no evil - that’s protection. For Thou art with me - that's faithfulness. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - that's discipline at the right time for the right reasons."

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies - that's hope. Thou anoints my head with oil - that’s consecration. My cup runs over - that’s abundance. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - that’s blessing. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - that’s security. Forever - that’s eternity.”

That’s certainly a very credible image of what God does, but not who God is. It’s one thing to know about God. It’s another thing to know God. And believe me, there’s the God you can know.    

So, what is life all about, and how can you know God and be known by God? Let’s look in scripture in John 17:3 when Jesus prays: 

“And this is the real and eternal life: That they (the disciples and us) know you, the one and only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent." 

There you go. Both life on this earth and eternal life are about knowing the deep things of God and making God known, as Jesus did. 

In his introduction to the Book of Matthew, the first gospel in the New Testament, author John Peterson enlightens us by taking us out of our present-world focus and time, revealing God’s focus and time. 

"The story of Jesus doesn’t begin with Jesus. God had been at work for a long time. Salvation, which is Jesus' main business, is an old business. Jesus is the final, unified form of themes, energies, and movements set in motion before the foundation of the world.

"Matthew opens the New Testament by situating the local story of Jesus in its world-historical context. He makes sure of that as we read his account of the connections with everything that has gone before. ‘Fulfilled’ is one of Matthew’s characteristic verbs; such and such happened, ‘that it might be fulfilled.’ Jesus is unique, but he is not odd.

"Better yet, Matthew tells the story in such a way that not only is everything before us completed in Jesus, but we are completed in Jesus as well. Every day we wake up in the middle of something that has been going on for a long time: genealogy and geology, history and culture, the cosmos - God. We are neither accidental nor incidental to the story. We get orientation, briefing, background, reassurance.”

It has been said that all of time is like a 50-foot rope, and the time we are living in now is less than a quarter of an inch along it. We're part of something much bigger, better, and greater than we know. Yet we are neither accidental nor incidental in God’s story and tapestry. In fact, we’re essential. 

God is calling a people. He’s inviting us to life now and life to come. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, and whoever opens the door dines with Jesus. "For God so loved the world that whoever believes" in Jesus will have life as God has life. I love those ‘Whoever’s. That’s your invitation into His story, not just a moment in history.

“The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy that anyone can pursue is pursuing understanding and wisdom from God about the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of God and Jesus.” (My edit of a Charles Spurgeon quote). In other words, there is no greater calling, degree, or title than to know God and make God known. That’s gravitas. 

For many years, I had the wrong definition of God. It hurt me much more than it helped me. I thought I was an expert, instead of the learner I needed to be. Today, the more I learn, the less I realize I know. I may not understand all, but I understand enough to be somewhat confused but very comforted. But this is as it should be for God is God, and I am not. I’m pressing into God and loving it. 

It may be your time to move from a 'who-so-never' to a whosoever, because you are neither accidental nor incidental.