Called to See God
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How many of you think you are here today because you decided on your own that you where going to get up and come and meet God here this morning. I would venture to say that none of us got up this morning deciding that we would meet with God today. Rather, like Peter, James, and John, we accepted Jesus’ invitation to join him. These three disciples that accompanied Jesus on his trek up the mountain to pray had no idea what laid before them as they set out that morning to go to pray with Jesus. It was enough for them and us that Jesus invites us to come with him, to be in his presences. We never know what God will reveal to us in any given day, or moment. So when the Spirit calls we obediently follow down into a valley if that is where he leads us, or up a mountain side.
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We are called to see God, because we are called to see our world as it truly is, and we are called to understand our relationship to God as it is meant to be.
We, like those disciples, often have preconceived ideas as to what God wants of us. In our defense we see the world through cloudy lens that have been colored by our life experiences. Peter, James, and John were following Jesus up the mountain after Jesus had had drug them into a valley of despair when he foretold of his own death on a cross, and then told them, that “If anyone would come after him, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow him.” That had to rock their world, for they believed that Jesus was going to run the Romans out of town and restore Isreal to the glory days when David was king.
To their credit they followed the call of Jesus. Following when perhaps they felt little like doing so. Sometimes it is like that for us as well. We are called to follow and we don’t always want to do so. We may have good reasons. It would be easy to wake up on Sunday morning for instance and say to yourself, you know I just don’t want to go to church today, God has not done much for me lately, I am certainly not feeling the love.
This would grieve God’s heart, but he has given you free will do just as you want. Those disciples could have told Jesus you know I don’t like where you have been taking us lately, so we will stay here thank you very much.
If we choose not to follow. we are choosing to miss out on a opportunity to be transformed by God. To see what God reveals to us when we avail ourselves to him. PJ&J had been with Jesus for sometime. They had there own understanding of who Jesus is, yet it was not until they traveled up mountain with him that day, did they see Jesus transformed into who he truly is. The experience on the mount of transfiguration was not for Jesus’ benefit, for he knew he was, rather this was for the disciples.
You and I are called to see God, because we are called to see our world as it truly is. To see our world as God sees it. Not jaded by our biases, our desire to manipulate others to our benefit rather we are called to see ourselves as revealed in the light of God’s love. A love that chips away at our veneer, that we hold out to the world as what we want others to perceive that we are.
When we stand freely in the light of God’s loving grace we reflect the glory of God. Like when Moses came down the mountain after talking to God on Mount Horeb, his face glowed and the people drew back in fear. When Moses’ face would glow after each time he spoke to God, the people insisted he wear a veil for they could not bare being in the shakina glory that radiated from Moses as a result of his being in the presences of God. To come face to face with a vision of God is terrifying and brings to light how much time we spend pursuing matters that take us nowhere. Pursuits that are not about developing a real relationship with God. A relationship that transforms us into what God sees in us. A transformation that allows God’s glory to shine out from us to others, like Moses, when he, spent time with God.
We are called to see God because we are called to see ourselves. God loves us because God sees us - really sees us … all of us, warts and all. Until we can see ourselves as God sees us, and accept ourselves as we are, we will never want to see God, much less embrace the knowledge that comes with the seeing. The Bible tells that Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. You know what that is like, when you first wake up, the mind is groggy. In those moments before you come fully awake and aware of what is around you.
When we don’t truly pursue a relationship with God we are as if we are heavy with sleep, not totally aware of seeing ourselves as God sees us, until we become fully awake, then we see the glory of God in our lives. That is what Peter and the others experienced as they saw Jesus as he is standing in conversation with Moses and Elijah. Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, on for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Luke the writer of this gospel stated that Peter was so overwhelmed by the experience that he spoke not knowing what he said.
We are called to see God and we are called to understand our relationship to God as it is meant to be. Created in the image of God, we are magnificent creatures. We don’t always act like it. When we don’t follow the leading of the Spirit of God and embrace a intimate relationship with Jesus. In doing so you are settling for much less than what God wants for you. The good news for us on this Transfiguration Sunday is that God covers us in a cloud of His love and reminds us, “This is my Son, Jesus, my Chosen One; listen to him,” and become the magnificent creature you are meant to be. Be transformed by the grace of God into one in which the glory of God shines forth from you to others living out what you have been created for.
Yes, we are called to see God because we are called to see our magnificence and live (and love) accordingly. We have seen Jesus who is the Son of God, the savior of the world. The one who has done for you what you can not do for yourself, transforming you into a holy righteous child of God made in his image. No longer bond by sin but free to come to the Lord’s table and eat and drink as a coheir with Christ to God’s eternal kingdom. A kingdom that lived out in love. An agape love, one that has been given to you by God’s grace, not because you deserve it , but because of God’s love. A love that sees you as you really are, one who is a magnificent creation of God.