THE INVISIBLE MADE VISIBLE

                                                        The Invisible Made Visible

Image from Web

I’m a member of multiple groups on Facebook. Some overtly Christian, others not so much. I was looking at one group called Authors Supporting Authors when someone rolled out the old tired and boring mocking trope about Christians worshipping an invisible God. It reminded me of ye olde tv series called House, in which the House character played by Hugh Laurie would mention the Christian’s “invisible friend”, (a.k.a. "imaginary friend"), which I took to be him mocking Christianity.

There’s an old YouTube video from around thirty years ago called One of Us by Joan Osborne in which she sings the line, “What if God were one of us?” Have House, those Christ mockers on the Authors Supporting Authors, Joan Osborne never heard of Christmas? Christmas is about Christians celebration the incarnation of God, i.e., God becoming one of us, yes, the invisible being made visible. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14a). What part of God becoming human does these and suchlike people not understand?

The whole Bible talks about this climactic event, from the promise in Genesis, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15) to Isaiah, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6), to Luke, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a  manger.” (Luke 2:11-12). Verse of Scripture could be multiplied, each showing either the promise of God becoming one of us and the fulfilment of that promise, i.e., when the Christian’s so called invisible friend became visible.

Could it be that these simply choose to supress the truth about God because it doesn’t fit their Godless prior assumptions? “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them (Rom. 1:18-19). Every Christmas they are reminded of that they are suppressing the truth that they are suppressing, yet the mockers keep on mocking. Speaking of Christianity, as the old adage says. “Don’t mock it till you’ve tried it” I used to mock Christianity. But now it’s, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see” (John Newton).

Until God by His grace opens up your eyes you will continue to tamp down His revelation of Himself, the visible will remain invisible. However, as Christians we believe the eyewitness accounts.

Image from Web

As the Apostle John says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3). As the Apostle Paul testifies, “He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:6-8).

Yes, the invisible was made visible on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to one and all! (even to you mockers out there!).