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Can You See the Invisible God? “GOD is a Spirit,” invisible to human eyes. (John 4:24) Yet, the Bible reports that some people have, in a sense, seen God. (Hebrews 11:27) How is that possible? Can you really see “the invisible God”? Compare our situation to that of a person who is blind from birth. Does his blindness completely prevent him from understanding the world around him? Not entirely. A blind person receives information in various ways that enable him to perceive the people, objects, and activities that surround him. “Vision isn’t in the eyes,” said one blind man. “It’s in the mind.” In a similar way, although you cannot use your physical eyes to see God, you can use “the eyes of your heart” to see him. (Ephesians 1:18) Consider three ways that you might do so. “CLEARLY SEEN FROM THE WORLD’S CREATION” A blind person often has heightened senses of hearing and touch, which he employs to perceive the things he cannot see. Similarly, you can use your physical senses to examine the world around you and to perceive the unseen God who created it. “His invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made.” For example, think about our home. Earth is uniquely designed for us not merely to eke out an existence but to enjoy life. When we feel a gentle breeze, bask in the warmth of the sun, taste a succulent fruit, or hear the soothing song of birds, we are delighted. Do these gifts not reveal our Creator’s thoughtfulness, tenderness, and generosity? What can you learn about God from what you see in the physical universe? For one thing, the heavens reveal God’s power. Recent scientific evidence suggests not only that the universe is expanding but also that it is doing so at an ever faster rate! As you look up at the night sky, consider: What is the source of this energy driving the expansion and acceleration of the universe? The Bible tells us that the Creator has “vast dynamic energy.” (Isaiah 40:26) God’s creation shows us that he is “the Almighty” “THE ONE WHO HAS EXPLAINED HIM” A mother of two visually impaired children says: “Speech is one of the most important aspects of their learning. Tell them everything you see and hear, [and] be prepared to give a running commentary. You are their eyes.” Likewise, although “no man has seen God at any time,” God’s Son, Jesus, “who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.” (John 1:18) As God’s first creation and only-begotten Son, Jesus became our “eyes” for peering into the heavens. He is the best source of information about the invisible God. Note a few of the things that Jesus, who spent aeons with his Father, explained about God: God works tirelessly. “My Father has kept working until now.” God knows our needs. “Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.” —Matthew 6:8. God graciously provides for us. “Your Father who is in the heavens . makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” —Matthew 5:45. God values us individually. “Two sparrows sell for a coin of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.” A HUMAN WHO REFLECTED THE INVISIBLE GOD People who are blind often grasp concepts in ways that are different from those of people with sight. A blind person may perceive a shadow, not as a dark area without sunlight, but as a cool area shielded from the sun’s warmth. Just as a person who is totally blind cannot see shadow or sunlight, we cannot understand Jehovah on our own. Therefore, Jehovah provided a human who perfectly mirrored His qualities and personality. That human was Jesus. (Philippians 2:7) Jesus not only talked about his Father but also showed us what God is like. Jesus’ disciple Philip asked: “Lord, show us the Father.” In reply, Jesus said: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also.” (John 14:8, 9) What can you “see” about the Father through Jesus’ actions? Jesus was warm, humble, and approachable. (Matthew 11:28-30) His refreshing personality drew people to him. Jesus felt the pain others felt, and he shared their joys. (Luke 10:17, 21; John 11:32-35) As you read or hear Bible accounts about Jesus, engage your senses and make the events come alive in your mind. If you meditate on the way Jesus dealt with people, you will be able to see God’s wonderful personality more clearly and be drawn to Him. FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER Regarding the way a blind person experiences the world, one author states: “He or she receives information in bits and pieces, from several sources (touch, smell, hearing, and so forth), and somehow has to put that information together into a whole.” Similarly, as you observe God’s creative works, read what Jesus said about his Father, and analyze the way Jesus reflected God’s qualities, a beautiful picture of Jehovah will emerge. He will become more real to you. Job, who lived in ancient times, had that very experience. At first he spoke “without understanding.” (Job 42:3) But after carefully considering God’s marvels of creation, Job was moved to say: “My ears have heard about you, but now I do see you with my eyes.” ‘If you search for Jehovah, he will let himself be found by you’ The same can be true for you. “If you search for [Jehovah], he will let himself be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Jehovah’s Witnesses will be glad to help you to search for and find the invisible God.
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Je li moguće vidjeti nevidljivog Boga? “BOG je Duh” i nevidljiv je nama ljudima (Ivan 4:24). Ipak, Biblija kaže da su neke osobe u određenom smislu vidjele Boga (Hebrejima 11:27). Kako je to moguće? Može li čovjek zaista vidjeti “nevidljivog Boga”? (Kološanima 1:15). Mi se nalazimo u donekle sličnoj situaciji kao i osoba koja je slijepa od rođenja. Da li joj sljepoća potpuno onemogućava da si predoči svijet oko sebe? Ne bi se moglo reći. Slijepa osoba na razne načine dobiva informacije pomoću kojih može steći sliku o ljudima i predmetima koji je okružuju te o onome što se događa oko nje. “Čovjek ne gleda očima, nego umom”, rekao je jedan slijepi čovjek. Slično tome, iako Boga ne možemo vidjeti doslovnim očima, Biblija kaže da ga možemo vidjeti očima svog srca (Efežanima 1:18). U nastavku ćemo navesti tri načina kako ga možemo vidjeti. NJEGOVA SE SVOJSTVA “JASNO VIDE JOŠ OD STVARANJA SVIJETA” Slijepe osobe obično imaju izoštren osjet sluha i dodira, a to im pomaže da pojme ono što ne mogu vidjeti. Slično tome mi možemo koristiti svoja osjetila da bismo upoznali svijet oko sebe i spoznali nevidljivog Boga koji ga je stvorio. “Njegova se nevidljiva svojstva (...) jasno vide još od stvaranja svijeta, budući da se razabiru po onome što je stvoreno” (Rimljanima 1:20). Naprimjer, razmislimo o Zemlji, našem prekrasnom domu. Ona je stvorena po našoj mjeri — ne zato da bismo jedva preživljavali na njoj, nego da bismo uživali u životu. Blagi povjetarac, ugodna toplina sunca, okus sočnog voća ili umirujući pjev ptica pružaju nam istinsko zadovoljstvo. Ne pokazuju li svi ti darovi koliko je naš Stvoritelj obziran, blag i velikodušan? Što možemo naučiti o Bogu promatrajući svemir? U prvom redu, nebesa otkrivaju koliko je Bog moćan. Najnovija znanstvena istraživanja ne ukazuju samo na to da se svemir širi nego i na to da se njegovo širenje ubrzava. Kad sljedeći put budete promatrali noćno nebo, upitajte se: Odakle potječe ta silna energija zbog koje se svemir ubrzano širi? Biblija kaže da Stvoritelj ima obilje “energije kojom sve pokreće” (Izaija 40:26, bilješka). Božja djela stvaranja pokazuju da je on Svemogući, “uzvišen u snazi svojoj” (Job 37:23). “ON GA JE OBZNANIO” Majka dvojice dječaka koji imaju oštećen vid rekla je: “Govor je jedan od najvažnijih načina na koji oni usvajaju znanje. Morate im opisivati sve što vidite i čujete te biti spremni neprestano im objašnjavati sve što se događa. Vaše su oči njihov pogled u svijet.” Slično tome Božji Sin Isus, “koji je Ocu najbliži”, obznanio je ljudima svog Oca, kojega “nijedan čovjek nikada nije vidio” (Ivan 1:18). On je Božje prvo stvorenje i njegov jedinorođeni Sin. Zahvaljujući njemu možemo “vidjeti” nebeska prostranstva u kojima prebiva Bog. Ni od koga drugog ne možemo više saznati o nevidljivom Bogu. Isus je proveo nebrojene vjekove sa svojim Ocem. Navest ćemo nekoliko pojedinosti koje je otkrio o njemu: Bog neumorno radi. “Otac moj radi sve do sada” (Ivan 5:17). Bog zna što nam je potrebno. “Bog, Otac vaš, zna što vam treba i prije nego što ga zamolite” (Matej 6:8). Bog se milostivo brine za nas. Naš nebeski Otac “daje da sunce njegovo izlazi zlima i dobrima i da kiša pada pravednima i nepravednima” (Matej 5:45). Bogu je stalo do svakog pojedinca. “Ne prodaju li se dva vrapca za novčić? A ipak nijedan od njih ne pada na zemlju, a da Otac vaš ne zna za to. A vama je i svaka vlas na glavi izbrojena. Dakle, ne bojte se, vi ste vredniji od mnogo vrabaca” (Matej 10:29-31). ČOVJEK KOJI JE ODRAŽAVAO OSOBINE NEVIDLJIVOG BOGA Slijepe osobe često doživljavaju svijet oko sebe drugačije od ljudi koji vide. Naprimjer, slijepa će osoba možda sjenu doživjeti kao hlad u kojem se može skloniti od vrućine, a ne kao mračno mjesto koje ne obasjava sunčeva svjetlost. Kao što potpuno slijepa osoba ne može vidjeti sjenu ni svjetlost, tako ni mi bez nečije pomoći ne možemo razumjeti kakva je Jehova osoba. Zbog toga se Jehova pobrinuo da se na Zemlji rodi čovjek koji je savršeno odražavao njegove osobine i karakteristike. Taj je čovjek bio Isus (Filipljanima 2:7). On nije samo govorio o svom Ocu već nam je i pokazao kakva je osoba njegov Otac. Isusov učenik Filip jednom je od njega zatražio: “Gospodine, pokaži nam Oca.” Isus mu je odgovorio: “Tko je vidio mene, vidio je i Oca” (Ivan 14:8, 9). Što možemo saznati o Ocu na temelju Isusovih postupaka? Isus je bio srdačan, ponizan i pristupačan (Matej 11:28-30). Imao je divne osobine i zbog toga su mnogi ljudi rado bili u njegovom društvu. Plakao je s drugima i radovao se s njima (Luka 10:17, 21; Ivan 11:32-35). Dok čitate biblijske izvještaje o Isusu ili slušate o njima, uživite se u opisane događaje i pokušajte si ih predočiti. Budete li razmišljali o tome kako se Isus ophodio s ljudima, dobit ćete jasniju sliku o divnim Božjim osobinama i poželjet ćete bolje upoznati Boga. KAKO DOBITI JASNU SLIKU O BOGU U jednoj knjizi koja objašnjava kako slijepa osoba doživljava svijet oko sebe stoji: “Ona dobiva informacije u dijelovima, i to na nekoliko načina (putem dodira, mirisa, sluha i tako dalje). Zatim sve to treba nekako sastaviti u cjelinu.” Slično tome, ako promatrate Božja djela stvaranja, čitate biblijske izvještaje u kojima Isus govori o svom Ocu te razmišljate o tome kako je on odražavao Božje osobine, dobit ćete predivnu sliku o Jehovi. On će vam tada postati još stvarniji. Božji sluga Job, koji je živio u drevno doba, i sam je to iskusio. U početku nije razumio kakva je Bog osoba (Job 42:3). No nakon dubokog razmišljanja o Božjim čudesnim djelima stvaranja rekao je: “Po čuvenju sam te poznavao dosad, ali sada te oko moje vidi” (Job 42:5). “Ako ga budeš tražio, dat će ti da ga nađeš” I vi možete iskusiti nešto slično. Biblija o Jehovi kaže: “Ako ga budeš tražio, dat će ti da ga nađeš” (1. Ljetopisa 28:9). Jehovini svjedoci rado će vam pomoći da pronađete nevidljivog Boga.