I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 2 John 12
Even today with all our instant messaging, with emails, SMS’s, online conversations, there is still nothing like a face to face visit (which is why we take holidays to visit our kids!). God knew this too. He used people like Moses and the prophets to bring his messages. Many of these prophets wrote down their messages but God always knew a face to face meeting would be necessary. So he sent Jesus. “… in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… The Son … is the exact representation of God’s being” (Hebrews 1:2-3).
Famous people are often encouraged to write autobiographies and painters produce self-portraits so that people who don’t have the opportunity to meet them in the flesh will be able to read about them, or view their paintings, and know what they were really like.
When God wanted to show us what he was really like he sent a self-portrait – Jesus. Jesus confirmed this, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
God has gone to enormous lengths so we can really know him and be in relationship with him. His consuming passion, from Genesis to Revelation is to have a close relationship with us because He loves us. Sometimes we’re overwhelmed by a God who loves like this. So we want to keep God a safe distance away, at arm’s length. We forget that he is our heavenly Father who cares deeply for us. He wants us to receive his love, and let ourselves be loved.
