Invisible God? God’s Image?

The following Scripture is in the New Testament; the “WHO” and the “WORD” are in reference to Jesus the Messiah ~ Yeshua Hamashiach (Hebrew Translation). I’ll be inserting Yeshua frequently instead of Jesus…just to give you a feel for His Hebrew name.

Colossians 1:14-17 (KJV) In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist(all things are held together). John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

In the beginning, when God created the Earth and all that’s in it including “man”, the world and man were perfect because there was no sin yet. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1 gives us the overview of the creation process and as well as His plan to give man dominion over the His creation. Genesis 2 gives us a closer look at the creation process as well as man’s purpose to tend the Garden in Eden and for God to have someone to walk and talk with. In Genesis 3 we learn of Adam and Eve and that after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they hid from God’s presence so that He would not see their nakedness. Presence is the existence of a person or thing in a certain place; opposed to absence. This, I believe to mean that until they had recognized sin and disobeyed God’s commandment, that they could actually see and hear Him during their walks and talks in the Garden in Eden. Genesis 3:8 says “They heard the sound” of the Lord God. Whatever form God took, it certainly allowed for the physical production of sound. I take this to mean that His walk (footsteps) were audible and that His steps made noise as He walked in the Garden. Once man had sinned, he could no longer stand in the presence of a perfect and holy God. So Adam and Eve had to leave the garden, or they would die…from study of further Scriptures, I believe that God and man could no longer occupy the same piece of ground as man’s sin made them vulnerable to death in his omnipotent omnipresence (all powerful presence).

***It seems to me that God had created an absolutely beautiful and unimaginable domain for mankind…it may have been the Garden of God’s Temple or home on Earth and He shared it with man (this comment is my thoughts – NO Scripture to back it up).

Therefore until God returned to Earth in the form of Jesus, (part man through the line of Adam, King David and then Mary) and part God, His “perfect holiness” is so “glorious” that man could not look upon Him without being destroyed.

Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth.²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

If you have read your Bible, you recognize that “LET US” make man in our image refers to more than one; the Father and the Son (Jesus/Yeshua) and the Holy Spirit that moved over the deep and currently resides in “born again” Christians. Right at the beginning of scripture this is where the Trinity or Triune-God comes into being. Generally speaking, when you read in the Bible about the visions of the throne of God, the Son of Man also known as the Lamb of God is standing at the right hand of God. Once again, because of his holiness the description of God on the Throne is so glorious that the person seeing the vision cannot actually see His face, so instead describes Him using what the human minds recognizes as beautiful and precious (rare and colorful stones). Therefore, the description of God and the Temple in Heaven is completely beyond our limited imagination. Just like what is said in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. This Scripture is in reference to the New Earth that God has prepared for us. God and Jesus will be with us again on the New Earth once sin has been completely destroyed.

As human beings, we can only identify with what man and Earth have become since sin manifested in the Garden; everything is now contaminated by sin and made filthy. As long as man chose sin, we would never be able to look on God the Father or He on us. Yeshua’s death on the cross has changed that scenario for those who believe in Him and who follow and obey Him as we are covered in His blood of Righteousness. We have been given free will by God so that we can make a choice, to either choose to follow the moral law of God or the immoral law of a world that’s been blinded by Satan. This is why there’ll be judgement in Heaven with God on the Throne and Yeshua (Jesus) as our mediator. Because Yeshua became flesh (Immanuel – God with us), he understands the poison darts that Satan throws at us on every turn. This is why in Ephesians 6:10-18 that we’re told to put on the full armor of God…without it, we cannot withstand the assault of the enemy of God, who wants to take as many with him into Hell as possible. Satan knows that he’s only been allotted a specific period of time to work his will against man.

In the following Scripture, we’re given the description of Yeshua when he returns to earth to destroy evil for good. See the reference to His name “Word of God”.

Revelation 19:12-14 (KJV) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture (robe, garment) dipped in blood (represents His death on the Cross and the blood He shed for us): and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Have you ever seen anyone who’s really angry…have you noticed that their eyes seem to throw out sparks…Yeshua’s eyes, when He comes to fight the final battle, are flames of fire because of the fury that has built up over 6000+ years because of the destruction that Satan has done to His perfect creation of Man and the Earth.

Satan, also known as Lucifer was one of His (Yeshua’s) most excellent and perfect creations: as a covering Cherub of the Throne, he had beauty beyond what we can imagine, he had the most gorgeous singing voices, he had honor among and above all the other angels and fully one third of the angels were under his authority and this is why they followed him to earth when he was cast out of Heaven. I believe there was a point in time, when even Lucifer could have repented and asked God’s forgiveness, but it’s gone way beyond that now. This is why we’re given the description of the last days in Daniel and Revelation. By the way, Daniel and John were the only men in Scripture referenced as “Beloved” by God, so these were both men that God knew He could trust to write down exactly what he wanted us to know about what’s coming in our future.

Yeshua by nature is loving, forgiving, kind, patient, compassionate, humble & gentle (Matthew 11:29), self-controlled, just and merciful. But he also felt disappointment(Matthew 14:31), sadness (He WEPT!)(John 11:35)(Luke 19:41-44), anger (John 2:13-22)(Matthew 21:12)(Matthew 23:13,16 & 33). All of these attributes and more make up Yeshua including omniscient(all-knowing, omnipresent(everywhere), omnipotent(all-powerful), immutability(never changing) and so many more. He and His Father are alike in every way, they are of one mind and one spirit.

Yeshua’s diciples were both concerned and confused that He was going to go to Jerusalem to die, so he tried to explain it to them…

John 14:1-12 (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

My thoughts from reading Scripture is that God is only invisible to mankind because of our sin. Looking upon him would cause us to die immediately!

Romans 3:23-26 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.