Word of Encouragement (4/8/2020)
We have been reflecting on the importance of beginning our prayer with adoration. We have talked about praising God for His creation, providence, and redemption. We can, and should, praise God also for who He is, of course. So, let's consider some of God's attributes.
The first attribute the Westminster Shorter Catechism mentions is God's pure spirituality: "God is a Spirit...." This means that God doesn't have a body like us. But is this something we should praise God for? Let's think about that.
As a Spirit, God is not confined by shape or space. (This is why the Second Commandment forbids us from making any graven images of God in any shape or form.) This also means that He is not made up of different parts and therefore He cannot be divided in any way. He cannot be severed into different pieces of Himself. He cannot lose any part of Himself (and still be God). He is perfectly united in Himself: there is no conflict within Himself. As a divine Spirit, He is also infinite and eternal. We should praise Him because He is so different and so much greater than we are (though we share in His spirituality in our souls).
As we praise God for His pure, divine spirituality, we should remind ourselves of what the true reality is. We tend to identify reality with physicality: we think something is not real unless we can see or touch, unless it exists materially. But the Bible challenges that notion from the outset: "In the beginning, God [who is a Spirit] created the heavens and the earth." Do you see? Before the physical universe came into being, God, a pure Spirit, already was. The physical reality is a secondary, temporary reality. The spiritual reality of God is the original and ultimate Reality. Indeed, the first creation (made up of material substance) will be done away with forever and be replaced with the new creation (consisting of spiritual substance, including our resurrected and glorified "spiritual body" [1 Cor. 15:44])! This is why we should not live by sight but by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), "For the things that are seen are transient, but he things that are unseen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:8). So, we are not to regard [that is, be impressed by or intimidated by] anyone according to the flesh (2 Cor. 5:16). This is why the Bible tells us, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of the Lord" (Deut. 8:3).
May the Lord bless us with an ever-clearer spiritual vision to see beyond the physical appearances of things into the true spiritual reality of God, His eternal purpose for His people, and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, which He has already blessed us with in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3). May this spiritual vision give us all the comfort and strength we need to face all the challenges that come our way! "I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)!