How An Invisible God Connects with Us
Romans Riches of Christ #2
During my first year of college, I started wondering what my purpose in life was or if there really was one. I would take walks, thinking about it, and during such times I would naturally shoot off some prayers to God with words like this, “God if you’re really there, would you let me know and show me what I’m here for.”
Like so many others, this began a life changing journey for me.
Almost all humans realize there is a very real dimension of life that we cannot see
Astronomers and astrophysicists speak often of forces in space they know are there, because they see the way these unseen forces are causing very seeable changes in planets, stars, and galaxies. They’ve moved beyond theorizing about “black matter” to “black energy”: things they cannot yet specifically prove, but forces that must be there because of the way space bodies are moving and responding..
They see the results of these unseen, not understood forces, they believe in them, even though they cannot yet explain them..
People from every culture, it’s pretty universal, believe there is an unseen world. They’ve seen the results of these invisible powers. They give it different names, they have different explanations, but they believe it’s real because of the way these unseen forces make noticeable differences in the visible world..
Everyone realizes that there is nothing more powerful in shaping the course of a human life than unseen forces: thoughts and emotions control us. Change these unseen ideas and a person’s life changes.
And then of course, the Bible teaches that our God, though invisible to the natural eye, is very, very real and not only created a visible, physical universe, but is still very actively involved in it. This amazing Creator wants to be intimately involved in every person’s life who invites Him to do so.
Jesus described people who have received Him as their God, savior, source, and focus as experiencing God, namely His Spirit like this, “The wind blows where it wishes and your hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going: so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
I Am Not a Naturally Spiritual Person
Now, before we go any further with this discussion, I want you to know that I am not one of those people who easily connects with the intuitive, emotional side of things. I come from a family that loves each other, but expressing it emotionally has always been a weakness of ours.
So, either from upbringing, temperament, or brain circuitry I’ve never been one of those who easily experiences God or spiritual realities. If you are one of those people, be grateful. If you’re not, if you’re like me, be encouraged, it’s possible for people like us to still have a great relationship with God and experience His active engagement with us.
I hope you’re on board with me, or at least open to the possibility that there is a very real God, though invisible, He desires us . He can be consistently experienced and we can be transformed by Him in powerful ways.
We won’t physically see Him in this life, but similar to the wind, we can experience Him, be empowered by Him, know His loving touch and receive His guidance.
What Does This Have to Do with Riches In Christ?
You may be wondering what this has to do with the Riches of Christ found in the book of Romans (the series this piece is part of). My goal here is to put down a launching pad that will make our launch into the Roman Riches smoother and stronger.
Having a few foundational thoughts in place has helped me experience these amazing truths and realities found in Christ in a much more powerful way than when I didn’t have them in place.
Every launch needs a pad or a runway and I’m wanting to quickly build one here before we step into our Romans aircraft.
All of Scripture, including the book or Romans, is LOADED with truth riches that can and will powerfully transform any life. God’s truth, His words not only carry HIs wisdom, it also carries His nature and His power. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
God’s Primary Colors
Depending on which chart you look at, there are 3–4 primary colors. From red, yellow, blue, and possibly green come all the other millions of colors our eyes can perceive. More colors exist than our physical eyes do not have the capacity to take in, but it’s incredible that from just 3 or 4 colors can come millions of others.
From my study of Scripture, it seems that God also has primary colors. There are three main ways He does everything that can be seen and experienced in millions or billions of ways.
Here they are: all found in Genesis 1 and then seen working through the entire Bible.
His Word: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
The very first words of Scripture don’t tell us how God created the heavens and the earth, but we quickly see how God created everything else, plus there are many other Scriptures telling how God creates.
Genesis 1:2 has a key insight, important to understand in how God does what He does. Knowing this will save you a lot of internal stress, confusion, and help you get rid of doubt when things God has promised don’t quickly happen.
“The earth was formless and void (waste and emptiness), and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving (hovering) over the surface of the waters.”
There is often a “phase two” when God creates or births something. It can be His work when He gives you new, eternal life in Jesus. It could be when He begins preparing you for a new phase in your life.
It is not unusual before God births something or speaks something new and powerful for it to be preceded by a season of formlessness, lack of vision, lack of understanding, lack of light; darkness. If you’re going through that, Isaiah says,
“Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon His God.” (Isaiah 50:10)
People who reverence God and obey Him, sometimes go through times of darkness. Jesus said if we follow Him we wouldn’t live in darkness, we would have the light of life. That is true, we never go into the darkness the world experiences.
However, there are times we all go through, that are dark compared to the norm of closeness, joy, and revelation that goes with following Jesus. Normal is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), with times of comparative darkness interspersed in our journey.
Treasures in the Darkness
Isaiah also tells us there are actually treasures in this darkness that God will give us in the right time. “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3)
So, if you are in one of those seasons; you are seeking God, you want to know His will, you know there is more for you but you’re just not seeing it yet, you don’t have clarity on what He wants you to know and do….keep trusting and seeking. There are incredible treasures and riches in God’s secret places, even places of darkness, that He is drawing you to and preparing to release in your life.
The Primary Way God Works
Genesis 1:2–3 “and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light”, and there was light.”
Here it is in the first few lines of the entire Bible, how God works….always. God’s work is always done in some form through HIs words and His Spirit.
The words of God in unity with the Spirit of God do the work of God.
Whenever God communicates with you. Whenever He touches you, heals you, empowers you, teaches you, speaks through you….it is always with His Words and His Spirit.
God’s word is described in many different ways throughout the Bible:
- Seed
- Rain
- Water
- Sword
- Hammer
- Bread
- Plans
- Truth
- Thoughts
The Holy Spirit is also described in many ways:
- Wind
- Breath
- Fire
- Water
- Truth
- Power
- Love
- Gifts
- Fruit
These are just some of the color’s that come from God’s primary colors of His word and Spirit.
Secondary Primary
In some color charts, green is considered primary, in others its a secondary color. Green is like the the third way God does all that He does is His Word and Spirit through
His Creation.
Starting in Genesis 1:3, God set in motion a way of spreading His life, not directly but through what He has created.
Light was the first thing God created after creating the heavens and the earth. God’s creation, light, became a way God worked in this world. The next days of creation, made manifest by the Word and Spirit, all became means by which God worked and continues to work.
Day, night, heaven, earth, dry land, waters, followed by vegetation that had the ability to reproduce.
1:11 “Then God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation; plants yielding seeds, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.”
God put into vegetation the power to reproduce after its own kind, using their own seeds. A measure of the life of God would now reproduce, re-create with seeds.
He then did the same with animals, and finally with human beings, who were specifically created in His image out of the created soil, then formed by His words (Genesis 1:26–28) and His breath (His Spirit.)
God’s Work on the Earth Today
Romans 1 builds on this by telling us, “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (1:20)
God uses His created world to show all people, everywhere, His invisible attributes and eternal power. Creation declares the reality and glory of God to every person on the planet.
God then became a man, working through flesh and blood, showing us what God is like in human form and teaching us how God intended us to live in the person of Jesus.
Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14) made alive and empowered by the Holy Spirit, who lived and ministered, died for our sins, and was raised from the dead by the power of God’s word and Spirit. Jesus, the Creator, became like the creation to save it.
Now, God uses His created people to share His word in the power of the Spirit to help people connect with Him and grow in Him. To bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
When you understand God’s primary colors of Word, Spirit, and Creation you know where to look for an invisible God and even more importantly you can connect with Him, know Him, and live life at the highest possible level.
Those are some of the riches of Christ, which we’re just about ready to dive into.
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