The Spirituality of God

Maizy Goerlitz

3. The Spirituality of God

When our granddaughter gave us this painting several years ago she called it "Creation."  It now hangs in our bedroom beside a window where every morning we see the sunrise. I have come to see God in this piece of art.  Can you see Him?

What do you think about when you hear the word "God"? In your mind's eye, what do you see? Can you visualize God? What is your mental picture of Him?

The fact that God is a spirit means on the one hand that He is immaterial and invisible, while on the other hand, he is a holy being, a person.  He has all the characteristics he created us with, plus He is so far beyond us that it is hard for us to comprehend His greatness.

Immaterial:
God does not have a physical body like we do. He does not have flesh and bones that we could weigh Him. Scriptures say He has eyes, and he has arms… and He has ears.  But He is not limited like we are.
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”    “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” -Isaiah. 59:1

"Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form -only a voice." -Deuteronomy 4:12

"And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor see his form." -John 5:37

What are we to think, then, of those passages of the Bible which speak of God's hands, eyes, ears, mouth, etc. It appears that God is revealed to us as figures of speech.  It is called an anthropomorphism, and that is a way that God speaks of Himself in human terms that we understand. We don't have any real words to describe what he is actually like.

I see God in every sunrise and every sunset... and I thank Him for another day.

Invisible:
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God.” –John 1:18   “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” –John 6:46   No one has ever seen God at any time. “The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.” –p.614 Evangelism

"Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen." -1 Timothy 6:16

I love the promise in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." -Matthew 5:8  So there will come a time we shall see God. 

Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father. "Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father." -John 14:9

Infinite: 

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." –Job 5:9 

The word "Infinite" means without limits. There is no limit to His power, to His wisdom, or to his ability to be in all places at the same time. In fact, there is no limit to any of His wonderful attributes, like His love and compassion, His kindess or His mercy.  He has no limits and no boundaries. Nothing is impossible for Him. It is actually quite mind-boggling!

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" 
-Romans 11:33