Words Are Not Enough

In 1678, the Franciscan missionary Father Louis Hennepin became the first recorded European to view the Niagara Falls. “Betwixt the Lake Ontario and Erié,” he wrote, “is a vast and prodigious Cadence of Water which falls down after a surprising and astonishing manner, insomuch that the universe does not afford its parallel.” Grasping for words sufficient to describe his experience, he continued, “The waters which fall from this vast height, do foam and boil after the most hideous manner imaginable, making an outrageous noise, more terrible than that of thunder; for when the wind blows from off the south, their dismal roaring may be heard above fifteen leagues off.”

Sometimes trying to describe something that incredible proves mere words to be inadequate.

The Apostle John found that to be the case. When God gave him a vision of his heavenly throne, John struggled to find words to describe what he saw. “And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance…and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal…” (Revelation 4:3, 6, NASB) Nothing he wrote could adequately portray what John saw, so he did the best he could with word pictures he knew his readers would understand. Yet even with the Holy Spirit inspiring his writing, simple words could never sufficiently depict the glory that John witnessed that day.

Of course, God did not rely on only words to give us an accurate picture of him.

“Show us the Father,” Phillip begged Jesus one day.

Jesus replied, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Hebrews 1:3 informs us Jesus is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of God’s nature. The person of Jesus is a second way we can view God. His teachings, miracles, and life as depicted in the pages of the Gospels give us another perspective on God, this time clothed in human flesh.

The splendor of nature is a third way God has revealed himself. “Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that [men] are without excuse,” Paul wrote (Romans 1:20, NASB). Psalm 19 declares, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

There is yet one more way God reveals himself. He is evident in the lives of those who love him. Ephesians 3:10 tells us “the manifold wisdom of God [is now] made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places” (emphasis added). God has chosen to reveal himself through the lives of his adopted sons and daughters.

Wow. I don’t know about you, but I find that concept downright frightening. Not too many people are pouring over the pages of Scripture to see what God has revealed about himself. They are not so interested in finding out about Jesus, either. The only God most people will see in their lifetime (outside of the general revelation that nature affords) is what they will see of God in us.

It’s a grave responsibility. We are so inadequate for the job. While the penalty for sin has been erased from our lives, the presence of sin continues to plague us. How in the world can a holy God reveal himself in people who lapse into sin time and time again? How can we avoid being perceived as hypocritical to a world that is watching?

We must show them our new hearts. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us.” Love, demonstrated in selfless giving to others, considering their needs above our own, will set us apart and reveal the Spirit who lives within us. We are completely loved by God, and our response should be a spillover of the same kind of love given to us: love which is marked by lavish grace.

Our actions will speak more clearly than mere words. And that’s a language anyone can understand.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16, NASB