This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit,and who tremble at my word. -Isaiah 66:1 & 2, NIV
We’re used to seeing a God of white hairs and robes, blue eyes, and vanilla-skinned complexion with a penchant for Hell and throwing lightning bolts to the puny humans downstairs. We like seeing a Jesus that’s ever begging for mercy whilst His father listens to His pleas and considers His will. And we like seeing a Holy Spirit that flies over our consciences while we, the puny ones, fail to miss out on the creative insight He has to offer.
-Look out! - He says.
-Nah, I’m okay-we say as we shamelessly plummet down to an abyss He tried to warn us.
And here’s the worst part: it’s not that we’ve let Hollywood, or novels, or priceless works of art define the way we see God.
It’s that we’ve let ourselves drive a chasm between God and us.
Sure, sin let that work cut out for all of us; guilt, shame, and irony definitely work against us. It forced us to look at Heaven not with awe and wonder, but fear and hopelessness. We now look at a God that’s way higher than us, showing us His commandments that no one with human skin –no one, not even the holiest of humans- could promptly reach. And the devil loves to take advantage of that.
We feel as if we drove Him away forever, locking Himself in the skies as he anxiously waits for the day of gore and destruction. Like pawns in an eerily-placed Sims game, He’s up there, and we’re down here eating and drinking with a vain aim on life.
But it’s not that way anymore.
He closed that chasm. He fixed it with glorious, untied hands.
He made Himself nothing. He died to His glory, to Himself.
But He came down and took us captive. No one would do that nor dare to volunteer.
But He did it. He made us closer.
And right now, He’s up there, in heaven, waiting for us with glorious, untied hands.
But He’s also right there, giving a tug to your heart.