Scripture reading: II Kings 6:15–23

Flatland

I have now seen the One who sees me. (Genesis 16:13 NIV)

 

Right now, wherever you are, the air around you is filled with radio, telephone and television signals; however, most of us are blithely ignorant of all this communication going on because we lack the proper equipment to receive the signals. In a similar manner our world is full of signals from God. He is communicating with us all the time, revealing his nature and displaying his power. But most of us are completely unaware of this stupendous fact for the simple reason we do not have the right “equipment” to pick up the signals. How tragic! God is as close as the air that we breathe, yet most of us fail to perceive him at all.

In his little book entitled Flatland, author Edwin Abbott has been a profound help in enabling me to better understand why we find it so difficult to perceive the God who is everywhere. All of the characters in this delightful book are geometrical figures. The narrative tells the story of a two-dimensional character named A. Square, from a place called Flatland. In Mr. Square’s world everything is experienced and understood in terms of length and width. These two dimensions define the totality of reality for all Flatlanders.

But one day A. Square encounters a visitor, Mr. Sphere, from another land. He is baffled by the fact that his two-dimensional definition of reality simply does not explain what he experiences as he interacts with Mr. Sphere. Coming from a place called Spaceland, Sphere tries hard to describe for Square a reality called height. Spaceland is a three-dimensional world full of glories that Square could have never imagined, locked as he was in his two-dimensional thinking. In a desperate move to enable Square to grasp the larger reality, Sphere physically transports him out of Flatland into Spaceland! In this brave new world of three dimensions, Square experiences things that he never conceived possible.

Having tasted the glorious reality of three dimensions, Square knew that he would never again be content to allow his world to be defined by length and width alone. Returning to Flatland, he begins immediately to preach the Gospel of Three Dimensions. With great fervor and zeal he longs for his fellow Flatlanders to dis- cover the beauties of life in a third dimension. He wants them to experience the wonders of height just as he has. But his message is greeted with disbelief, mockery, and finally violence. He is arrested and thrown into prison lest his silly talk of another dimension corrupt the hearts and minds of other Flatlanders.

Friends, the living Lord wants to give you the “equipment” to see the Kingdom of God. Don’t settle for a life defined only by what you can experience with your five senses. Let Jesus introduce you to a dimension of reality that will change your perspective on everything! Truly, truly I say to you. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

 

It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God,

for only the pure in heart want to.—C. S. Lewis

 

point to ponder • The problem is not the absence of God, but the blindness of man.

prayer focus • For blind eyes to be opened to see God.