NO MAN HAS SEEN GOD

NO MAN HAS SEEN GOD

Last evening, I discovered an intriguing story by Wayne Rice. It is a highly creative and allegorical response to all those who doubt the existence of God and His marvelous plans for us. (Jeremiah 29:11 and John 1:18)

Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the womb. Seconds, minutes, hours passed as the two embryonic lives developed. The spark of life grew and each tiny brain began to take shape and form. With the development of their brain came feeling, and with feeling, perception--a perception of surroundings, of each other, and their own lives. They discovered that life was good and they rejoiced in their hearts.

One said to the other, “We are surely blessed to have been conceived and to have this wonderful world.”

The other chimed in, “Yes, blessed be our mother who gave us life and each other.”

Each of the twins continued to grow and soon their arms and fingers, legs and toes began to take shape. They stretched their bodies and churned and turned in their little world. They explored it and found the life cord which gave them life from their mother’s blood. They were grateful for this new discovery and sang, “How great is the love of our mother--that she shares all she has with us!”

Weeks passed into months and they noticed changes in each other and in themselves.

“We are changing,” one said. “What can it mean?”

“It means,” said the other, "that we are drawing near to birth.”

An unsettling chill crept over them. They were afraid of birth, for they knew that it meant leaving their wonderful world behind.

Said the one, “Were it up to me, I would live here forever.”

“But we must be born,” said the other. “It has happened to all the others.” Indeed, there was evidence inside the womb that the mother had carried life before theirs. “And I believe that there is life after birth, don't you?”

“How can there be life after birth?” cried the one. “Do we not shed our life cord and our blood tissue when we are born? And have you ever talked to anyone that has been born? Has anyone ever re-entered the womb after birth to describe what birth is like? NO!”

As he spoke, he fell into despair, and in his despair he moaned, “If the purpose of conception and our growth inside the womb is to end in birth, then truly our life is senseless.” He clutched his precious life cord to his breast and said, “And if this is so, and life is absurd, then there really can be no mothers!”

“But there is a mother,” protested the other. “Who else gives us nourishment? Who else created this world for us?”

“We get our nourishment from this cord -- and our world has always been here” said the one. “And if there is a mother, where is she? Have you ever seen her? Does she ever talk to you? NO! We invented the mother because it satisfied a need in us. It made us feel secure and happy.”

Thus, while the one raved and despaired, the other resigned himself to birth and placed his trust in the hands of his mother. Hours turned into days, and days into weeks. And soon it was time. They both knew their birth was at hand, and they both feared what they did not know. As the one was first to be conceived, so he was the first to be born, the other following.

They cried as they were born into the light. They coughed out fluid and gasped the dry air. And when they were sure they had been born, they opened their eyes, seeing life after birth for the very first time. Their first sight was the beautiful face of their mother, as she cradled them lovingly in her arms. They were home.

EDITOR'S NOTE: While this is a somewhat fictional (and thus imperfect) analogy, it has much to teach us about the nature and reality of God, i.e. His prevenient grace and wondrous love, acting on our behalf long before our birth, eons before the foundation of our world.

“No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared him.” (John 1:18, NKJV)

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29b, NKJV)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!