No, we cannot see God, we cannot touch Him – we cannot physically see or touch Him. Yet just like Peter says, though we have never seen Him, we love Him! I was so impressed regarding this matter this morning as I was enjoying the Lord in the morning revival on the Crystallization-study of Isaiah (1) – week 2. We can “substantiate” God by means of our spirit – when we exercise our spirit by calling on the Lord’s name, we touch Him (in spirit)!
That’s what we want actually – to remain in this sweet touch with the Lord. When we enjoy Him and touch Him in our spirit, we’re happy, and we have the sense that we have found the meaning of our human life. It is through this touch with the Lord that we continue to pursue Him and love Him.
On the other hand, many times God seems to be hidden to us – we can’t touch Him, understand Him, reach Him…. the God whom we love and serve is a God who loves to hide Himself. He created the universe, and then hid Himself in the universe, so that we may seek Him and find Him.
He’s not “out there in the open” – He operates behind the scenes, arranges things without being seen that He’s in charge…. People may even ask us, “Where is your God? Doesn’t He do anything for you to rescue you / defend you in this situation?” but the only thing we can answer is,
My God is hidden, and though I cannot see Him and I cannot touch Him physically, I know He is there for me. Sooner or later, He will come in and do something on my behalf. I just trust in Him.
Especially when it comes to helping us, the omnipotent God is hiding Himself. We cannot see Him, and apparently He is not doing anything for us. Actually, God is with us all the time and, in a hidden way, He is doing many things for us!
Our God who hides Himself is at work in our life, working behind the scenes in a secret way, arranging all the things for our salvation and transformation, to conform us to His image! He is working mightily in us, though we may not see this. Our responsibility is to cooperate with Him by listening to His voice in us. He speaks to us from within – that small voice that seems so much a part of our own feelings that we scarcely recognize it as a voice at all.
When He speaks within us and we say “Amen, Lord”, He can continue His divine and mystical operation in our being…. He just needs our Amen, our cooperation. Even though most of the times His answer to our questions is NO! – if we listen to Him, obey His inward speaking, we get more of Him. And then, we go on pursuing Him, seeking Him, enjoying Him…
To that voice, registered in the deepest depths of your being, you must say, “Amen”, for there, secretly and ceaselessly, the God who hides Himself is working. (W. Lee, A God who Hides Himself)
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