Imagine

Imagine - nothing. Before anything else existed, there was nothing; formless, void and empty. Nothing. It’s hard to imagine nothing, but that’s what there was. Then there was something. The voice of God resonated power and the universe was born. It grew to become vast and immeasurable. Today, as far as we know, it’s still expanding. The nearest star is over four light years away, and the furthest? - Imagine.

’In the beginning, God’ (Genesis 1:1). No one has ever seen God (1 John 4:12), but Ezekiel had a vision: ‘This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down’ (Ezekiel 1:28). He had seen God’s glory. Can we imagine?

Scripture tells us ‘God is love’ (John 4:16). True love is from God. He is the source of love; the love that was demonstrated on the cross by Jesus Christ. It cost Him His life. This love of God was passed on to us through Jesus, so that we can know it and live in it. ‘Love is eternal’ (Psalm 138:8). It never ends. Is this because it’s beyond time, or is time endless? We can only imagine. ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Jeremiah 31:3).

How about peace and joy? What do they look like? Peace is the end of war, when there is unity between rival factions. Peace is when all turmoil has ceased, all differences have been resolved and everything is calm. But peace is stronger than this. Peace is serene. It’s the channel through which we can draw near to God and know Him. Peace is of the Spirit and extends to all believers, ‘The fruit of the spirit is ... peace’ (Galatians 5:22), and the peace of God that reaches far beyond all our understanding is far greater and deeper than we could ever imagine (Philippians 4:7).

Joy too comes in various forms, such as the joy between parents and children or the joy of a loved one coming home. Or are these just forms of happiness, or excitement? I believe true joy comes through our relationship with God. ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10). Without Jesus joy is incomplete. ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’ (John 15:11). And as for Jesus, ‘for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross’ (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus knew where He was going. He was returning to the joy He had known from the beginning, reunited with His Father.

‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul’ (1 Peter 1:8). Can we imagine?

Prayer: Father, I thank You. You have given me so much. Your presence is always with me. How can I begin to understand your ways? You know me better than I know myself, and I trust You. May Your grace be seen in me as I live in awe and wonder of Your presence, that others too may see and come to know Your amazing love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.