Book 4 of Musings A God at Hand

It seems to me that the Lord is drawing closer to us.

Jesus promised, in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, that He would appear to His saints and not to the world. I understand the day will come when every eye shall see Him; but maybe the Lord's statement in John is speaking of His coming to the disciples before He appears to the world.

I have written quite a bit about the feast of Tabernacles, and how the Lord will appear to His disciples before He is revealed to the world. This prior revelation is described in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John.

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" (John 14:21-22)

I got to thinking this morning about how close the Lord's presence is to us in these days. It must have been like that with the early Apostles. Of course, they had been with Jesus when He was in physical form. But I mean right after that, at the time of the Book of Acts and a few decades following.

But then something seems to have taken place. We all have seen the stylized representations in the Orthodox churches, the icons, the statues of Christ, the pictures of the Madonna and Child, the Sacred Heart. All of these make us think of an incomprehensible Being who is far, far above us. A great icon in Heaven, not an actual person.

At the present time, however, these stylized representations seem like part of some kind of religion that has nothing to do with the Lord Jesus. Christ is right here at hand, where we can speak to Him and have fellowship with Him as a Person.

I personally believe when His brothers grow up a little He will be able to talk with them; bounce ideas off them; share a joke or a sorrow or perplexity with them. At least, this is happening to me! and I am sure to many others.

We are talking a lot in our church about intimacy with Jesus. You know, I keep thinking it has something to do with Rev 3:20, where the Lord says if we will open the door He will dine with us.

When you think of the great marble statues of Jesus, and compare this with someone sitting down at the table with you, it seems like two different religions.

Moses and Elijah spoke with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is the way it should be, and is in some instances. We ought to be able to discuss matters with the Lord Jesus.

I guess it is the spirit of religion that creates a majestic edifice and then names it after a fisherman. I guess it is religion that presents the Lord Jesus Christ as an unapproachable Being who is seen best in statuary and the paintings of the masters.

Being a fisherman, Peter was probably a pretty earthy sort of person, as fishermen usually are. I wonder what he would think if he could see the religious art forms and ceremonies devoted to himself.

Why do we do this to God and the saints? What is there in us that seeks to create an idol we can reverence? Why do we prefer religious abstractions when we can have simple fellowship with the simple Jesus?

I am not going to worry about it. This who wish to adore statues and paintings are free to do so. As for me, I want to have close fellowship with the Lord Jesus. How about you?

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)