Sermon for October 2, 2005

The God We Worship: “God is spirit.”
John. 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17
Introduction: God is such a mystery to us. True mysteries are difficult to understand and it is hard to gain more than a certain level of knowledge. We speak of the mystery of the universe. In pop culture I think “The X Files” represents that sense of mystery that is never really resolved.
In a sense that mood of mystery is conveyed by the words chosen to describe God in scripture. It is not surprising that people in biblical times, both in Hebrew and Greek, used the terms for “breath” or “wind” to describe spirit. We cannot see the wind but we can see the effects of wind. Wind can be refreshing and life giving. It can also be one of the most destructive forces of nature. It is no wonder that these words are used to describe God who is invisible and yet has a profound impact on our physical world.
I. The Invisible God
One obvious thing about saying God is spirit is that He cannot be perceived with our senses. This is a great problem for people with a materialistic mind set. God is not physical as we are. As created beings we exist in a world of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. We have a soul created in God’s image. We are like God but he is not like us.
There are basically two ways we can learn about this invisible God. We can observe how God works and impacts our natural world. Paul makes this point in Romans saying that something of God can be learned from creation, his eternal power and divine nature, Rom. 1:20. There has always been evidence in nature pointing to God but people must look for it, be willing to see it. But even so, what we can learn of God is limited.
The second way we learn about this invisible God is by his revealing himself to us; that is by revelation. The different ways God has revealed himself to us is varied. He has spoken to people in dreams and visions. He has sent messengers both human and angelic. He has spoken in thunder and in whispers. The revelation of scripture is all about God revealing himself to humanity.
The great thing about this is God wants us to know him. God has gone to unbelievable lengths to reveal himself in ways we can perceive. Yet to find God, to know God, requires that we seek him, that we desire to know him. Some of us have studied different areas of learning. If a person studies biology they can learn some superficial things fairly easily. But many things require hard work to learn, meticulous research and observation. Every discipline of learning is that way. How much more true it is for learning about God. Jeremiah put it this way, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” Jer. 29:13.
II. God Transcends Space
The fact that God is spirit has other implications. When we talk about creation we often think in material terms but it goes further than that. God created the space in which our universe exists and, as spirit, is present in every place. This is another of those areas we have difficulty imagining. After all we can only be in one place at a time. You may have seen that silly commercial about the man who clones himself so that he can do everything he wants. It proves a bit confusing and frightening to his wife. Again, we don’t have the words or the ability to understand how this takes place but the more we delve into these lessons the more we will realize that much of God is mystery to us.
To the psalmist this aspect of God was a great comfort:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Ps 139:7-10
God’s presence is a constant no matter where we are or the terribleness of the circumstances. Jeremiah writes
“Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
declares the LORD.
Jer. 23:24
God is present because God is spirit.
In our privacy culture this aspect of God is troubling to some. He was there when David committed adultery. We cannot hide from God the evil that we do.
But for us as God’s people it is a fact of great comfort. No matter where we are, no matter how terrible the circumstance, God is with us. God was in the lion’s den, in the fiery furnace, at the bottom of the well, on a hill with three crosses. But he was also at the pit when Stephen was stoned to death and the chopping block when James was killed. God is with us also, no matter the circumstance.
III. God Transcends Time
Another aspect of the creation that God transcends is time. It is hard for us to imagine a place of “no time” and yet that is what eternity is, that is where God dwells. God is above and in time in ways that we struggle to comprehend. Some years back there was a popular romantic comedy called “Groundhog Day”. The main character lived the same day, Groundhog Day, February 2, over and over again. He reaches a point where he knows everything that will happen that day. He knows the people of the town and every like, dislike, and foible. This is nothing like what time is to God but it does give a sense of timelessness that may give us insight into God. How can God hear all the prayers that are offered to Him? How can he be concerned about the details of my life? To God, who is timeless from all eternity, time is no consideration or limit. The psalmist puts it this way,
For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4
It is difficult, perhaps impossible for us to imagine a world without time and yet that is the place God exists and where we will exist in the future.
Time is such a precious commodity to us that we often feel time pressure. It is the source of much of our impatience in life. Then once in a while we come across someone and the phrase we use to describe him or her is, “They act like they have all the time in world.” God does have all the time in the world. He has time for us and our joys, sorrows, victories and defeats. I believe that one reason we have difficulty understanding God is just that, God has all time. That is frustrating for us because we want God to fit our time frame. The good side of this is that God has time for all of us. Faith is trusting God with time. The Hebrew writer concluded his chapter on faith with these words,
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Heb. 11:39-40
The promises of God are not bound by human time. God keeps his promises and we will witness every promise fulfilled in God’s timeless eternity.
Is it any wonder that we struggle with understanding God? As Isaiah wrote,
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways ,"
declares the LORD.
"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
This is why faith is so critical to our relationship with God, we must trust even when we don’t understand.
There is a difference between a mystery and a puzzle. Puzzles are solved and that’s the end. But a better understanding of a mystery doesn’t decrease the mystery and that is why knowing God is a lifetime journey. Let’s go as far as we can.