The Transfiguration

One

Why do so many people think the very idea of God is boring? 

Maybe it’s because they’ve been given the wrong image of God.

On the one hand, some people think of God as a God of wrath. This is a God of jealousy, power, commandments, punishments. A God who will throw you into an eternal torture chamber unless you follow whatever arbitrary rules He dreams up. That’s a God who inspires fear, but not love. It’s not an attractive God. If that God didn’t exist, you’d be relieved. If He did exist, you’d prefer not to think about it.

On the other side of the spectrum, people have this idea of Buddy Jesus, Jesus meek and mild. He’s kind, and generous, and supportive, and he makes you feel good about yourself. That’s a God who inspires love, but not fear. Like a kid’s stuffed animal or security blanket. It’s warm and comforting, but eventually you outgrow it.

And a lot of people, when they get to high school or college think they’ve outgrown their faith, when all they’ve actually done is outgrow Buddy Jesus, who isn’t real anyway.

Two

On the mountain of Tabor, we see by Peter’s reaction that the real God is very different. He is a God who inspires fear and love

Remember what Peter says? “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid.”

So he’s terrified of the awesome majesty of Jesus in His glory but he doesn’t want to leave.

The true God will terrify you when you meet Him. And He’ll also fill you with a consuming desire to stay with Him forever. He is, in the famous phrase, a “Mysterium tremendum et fascinans,” – a mystery that frightens but attracts.

This is the God you will someday meet.

Three

So the Real God Is infinitely more than a God of wrath or a special friend 

He is overwhelmingly awesome, He’s a Person who built and controls the Universe. All-powerful, He can do anything. Omniscient, all-knowing, all-merciful, all-forgiving. He loves galaxies into existence. And He died for you in particular.

What will it be like when you come into the presence of that God?

Well, can you remember the tallest person you ever stood next to? Some of us have stood next to people who make us feel small by comparison and those people are maybe just a little more than a foot taller than we are.

Now imagine how it would feel to talk to someone as big as a house. Now someone bigger than a skyscraper. Bigger than the Earth. Bigger than the Sun. Bigger than solar systems, or galaxies, or galaxy-clusters. Someone bigger than the Universe

Imagine you could meet someone that big, and when you approached Him, He looked at you and knew everything about you

Imagine how intimidating, honestly, how terrifying that would be. How intimidating and terrifying that will be. Because it’s going to happen.

Four

But then imagine, as you’re cowering before this supreme, infinite person staring straight at you in all your cosmic tininess, imagine that He smiles and says, “I love you. I’m glad you exist. I died for you.”

Talk about the ultimate validation! You know you belong in the Universe when God says you belong there.

There is a large mosaic in the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor depicting Jesus surrounded by Peter, James, John, Moses, and Elijah. And under it are the words spoken by the Father, “This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I delight.”

Did you catch that? In whom I delight!

I was sitting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum where Jesus took a little child and put his arms around him and said the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to him. Imagine what that child felt when God picked him out, wrapped his arms around him, and looked into his eyes.

You are a beloved son or daughter of God and He not only died for you, but He also delights in you!

We tend to like people who like us. We tend to love people who love us. How could you not love this infinite Being who has noticed you, delighted in you, and loved you.

Five

The point is that the proper response to God is fear and love – so how can we cultivate those responses to Him now, to prepare us for meeting Him then?

Well, first of all, we cultivate fear by being reverent towards God. Don’t act like God’s not a big deal and certainly don’t talk like God’s not a big deal. Being reverent means acting like you take God seriously.

So don’t use “omg” in your speech. Don’t treat God like He’s just a verbal trick for expressing mild surprise. When you ask for stuff, remember He’s in charge. And when you approach Him in Communion, remember that it’s only by a miracle of grace that you’re not instantly disintegrated by touching the energy source of all being and time!

You’re taking your life in your hands, so don’t act like you’re just holding out your hand to a cashier and waiting for your change.

We cultivate love for God by trying to be generous to Him. Charity means making it about Him. Don’t treat God as something to “meet your spiritual needs” or someone to occasionally lobby for something you want. 

God is a person who loves you, who has been generous to you. Any decent person would want to give back, show their gratitude and appreciation. So spend time with Him thank Him, and praise Him. He’s shown His love for us. That’s how we show our love for Him.