What It Takes to See God

Spiritual Advantage with Sam Stone

An elementary school teacher distributed sheets of plain paper and colored crayons to her class, asking the children to draw whatever they wanted. Knowing children are creative, she was curious about what they would draw.

She approached a little girl and asked, “What are you drawing?” “A picture of God,” she said. “Oh, no. You can’t draw a picture of God.” She asked, “Why?” “Because no one has ever seen God, and no one knows what God looks like.”

The little girl replied matter-of-factly, “Well, they WILL know what God looks like after I finish.” (End of story.)

At a glance, we think children are funny, naive, and ignorant. However, have you ever wondered if the other way around may be more accurate? Children may be much closer to God than adults are.

Some might think it’s because they have been taught about God, but evidence shows that even children born of atheist parents have some knowledge of God.

The child prodigy Akiane Kramarik is a good example. I know many of you have heard about her in the news.

If children don’t have the innate capacity to know God, they won’t understand even if you teach them about God. Sunday School teachers would be frustrated.

It seems we lose that spiritual acuity as we grow up. It reminds me of Thomas Hood’s famous poem, “I Remember, I Remember.” The last stanza speaks to me profoundly,

I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now ’tis little joy
To know I’m farther off from heav’n
Than when I was a boy.

(Thomas Hood, I Remember, I Remember).

Maybe Thomas Hood is right; the older we grow, the further we are from heaven. We all want to grow up and become more mature, but in the process, we lose what matters most—our keenness to God.

The question is, can we rekindle that capacity to know God? What does it take to see God again? Jesus says,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3).

He says you must “change” and “become.” Isn’t it ironic that after all these years on earth striving to become adults, Jesus wants us to turn around and become children?

The outcome is entering the kingdom of heaven, the place of ultimate joy and happiness. If becoming children is what it takes to enter the kingdom of heaven and see the face of God, I believe it’s worth it.

Today is the last day of 2023 and also the last Sunday of the year. Most of you may already have your New Year’s resolution. As for me, I resolve to become like children. Would you join me?

We don’t know what 2024 will bring. It’s a critical year. Do you know that 64 countries worldwide will have elections in 2024, including the United States, Taiwan, Russia, and the European Union? Half of the world population will head to the polls in 2024.

There’s a lot of uncertainty ahead of us, but there’s one certainty that we all know. As Paul said,

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Ro 8:31b).

2024 is uncharted water, and the world will be confused by the storms of news that constantly preach uncertainty. But nothing can confuse us if we walk closely with God, the Rock of Ages.

So, today, we will explore how wise people see God in times of chaos based on Jesus’ baby dedication ceremony and learn how to see the presence of God ourselves. Let’s begin!