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Seeing God’s Face

EXPERIENCING GOD IN YOUR LIFE

Seeing God’s Face

January 6, 2008

Text: Exodus 33:17-23

Ex 33:17-23

17 The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18 Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." 19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." 21 And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

NRSV

Today begins a series of sermons on how to better experience God in your every day life.

We’re going to begin with the basics—how can you “see” God?

We’re going to call on experts for this task: our children.

If you were to ask a child to draw God’s face, he/she would have no problem whatsoever. It’s as if they’ve seen God’s face. Here’s proof. A few Sundays ago the children in our Kids Corner were asked to draw what they think God looks like. Here is their work:

So—how would you draw God’s face?

Well, if we are to see God’s face—draw God’s face—there are three things we MUST remember.

Number one:

GOD’S FACE IS THE FACE OF PURE LOVE.

The actress Jeanette George was on a plane, and couldn’t help but notice a woman and her baby. Every time the baby cried, the young mother fed the baby a little fruit and a little orange juice. It was a turbulent flight, though, so everything that went down came back up. By the time the plane landed, the carpet was a mess, and the baby looked awful.

At the gate was a young man who had to be Daddy: white pants, white shirt and flowers. Jeanette thought to herself, “He’s going to [see that baby, then run the other way!].”

The moment he saw the baby, he ran—towards the child. He grabbed the messy baby, held her against his white shirt, and whispered loving things in her ear. All the way to the luggage claim area, he never stopped hugging and kissing that baby, stroking her hair, welcoming her back home.

Jeanette asked herself, “Where did I ever get the idea that our Father God is less loving than a young daddy in white slacks and white shirt?” Our God has chosen to make us his children, and he is going to embrace us and accept us with open arms, no matter how messy we are.

When did you ever feel your messiest—your ugliest—your least likable, least lovable? We can look back at 2007 and see our mistakes. We can focus on pain and problems. But what we should do is see what children can so easily see: A God in white shirt and pants, running and hugging, despite our messes. A God who forgives us, believes in us, stays with us—regardless.

If you want to see God’s face, get in your mind’s eye that daddy dressed in white. Or, get in your mind’s eye the person who was like that daddy to you—someone who showed you unconditional love. You may prefer Jesus’ image of God as that daddy who springs off the front porch to embrace his young son who’s returned home—and as he embraces, he shouts, “I’m going to throw a party! Here’s my boy, he’s come back—he once was lost, but now is found! My child—my child!”

You want to see God’s face? Then remember a face of pure love, and you’ll see God.

Second thing to remember in order to draw on this paper:

GOD’S FACE IS ALWAYS THERE—WE JUST LET OTHER THINGS BLOCK IT.

Here’s a little exercise.

Ushers—please turn out all the lights in the sanctuary.

Without lights, things are a bit dreary, aren’t they?

We need light.

That’s better. But something’s missing. What is it?

This is the way our sanctuary was designed in 1984. But through the years, things got out of focus, and we didn’t see that image, did we? We had to adjust the lights the right way, to shine across the cross. We had to make sure the other lights didn’t interfere with it, by shining against the wall and blocking it out. By carefully adjusting things, we can see the image of God’s love…

…The face of Christ. The face of pure love, the face crucified between two thieves for us. That is the face we should see, not just in this sanctuary, but in our lives every day. But we don’t. We get our lights out of adjustment. Worries. Ambitions. Desires. Anger. Jealousy. They all knock our lights every which way. And soon the face fades.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. The beginning of a new year is the time to take spiritual inventory of our lighting. What can you do to bring things back into focus in your life, so that you see the face of compassion that is ALWAYS there?

You want to see God’s face? Then adjust your lights. Re-focus. And don’t let your problems knock things out of alignment.

Maybe, in order to do that, you’ll have to…

GO TO WHERE YOU’LL SEE GOD’S FACE.

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God.

He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with donuts and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man, who was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a donut.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

His smile was so incredible that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Once again, he smiled at him.

The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man and gave him a hug.

The old man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? He’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy on his face was asked by his son, “Father, what did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I ate donuts in the park with God.”

But before his son could respond, he added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

Where is your park bench? It might be at the office—or in the classroom or conference room or hospital room. It might be in a homeless shelter, or at a Habitat for Humanity home. Who’s sitting on the bench? Only if you venture out to see God, and sit down on that bench, will you glimpse God’s face.

Hmmm. Maybe the park bench is here. [Go to communion rail.]

Maybe, this morning, we’re not sharing donuts and root beer, but the bread and the cup.

You want to see God’s face?

Start by looking at the people you’re about to eat and drink with.

God DOES have the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen.

And God IS much younger than you’d expected!