Have You Seen Him?

Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father. John 14:9

There was a news story this week which highlighted a seagull on the beaches in Connecticut. It appears that he terrorizes beachgoers by swooping down and stealing their food, even several sandwiches at one time. The situation has gotten so bad, that the county has put up wanted signs on the beach which show a picture of the seagull with the words, Have you seen him?

The seagull’s name is Cecil, and he is known for his persistence, biting while stealing sandwiches, and arriving just at lunchtime when the food begins to appear.

Seagulls are present on beaches everywhere, and we have always found them to be pretty even tempered animals. However, many beaches do warn against feeding them as they are nature’s ultimate opportunists when it comes to food.

I began to wonder what would happen if we placed signs with a picture of Jesus around a community with the words, Have you seen Him? In the scripture above, Jesus is telling his disciples that “If they have seen Him, they have seen God.” There are so many times and places in our daily lives where we “See God” without even noticing it!

The disciples and many of the people in the New Testament were fortunate enough to see Jesus in the flesh when He walked among them. We will need to be content with feeling His spirit and seeing His works until that day when we will see him face to face.

People experience Him in a variety of ways, from profound life altering encounters to subtle every day feelings. Some may find Jesus in moments of peace, joy, or a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves while others find Him in life altering situations. These experiences are deeply personal and vary greatly from one person to another.

Seeing Jesus in our everyday places is like seeing a reflection of God’s nature and character. If we are honest, most of us feel the reassurance of seeing God’s hand in the things and events of life.

For example, have you seen Him in the first light of day while the “dew is still on the roses”? Who else could bless us with the beauty of each new day?

Have you seen Him in the face of a newborn baby as parents and family feel that sense of unconditional love and connection?

Have you seen Him in acts of service as the joy of selfless giving of ourselves and our resources show us God’s love in action through Missions to others?

Have you seen HIm in challenging situations when He bestows peace, strength, or hope in the way that allows us to experience God’s presence?

Have you seen Him when hummingbirds come back every year to visit as a reminder of those who are no longer with us, but with the reassurance that God is there?

Have you seen Him during “rainbow days” when His promise is bright and reassuring in the heavens?

Have you seen HIm through people who remain “anonymous” even though they give so much of themselves to others?

Have you seen Him in the comforting words and actions of those around us when we lose a loved one?

Have you seen Him through the kindness of others?

Have you seen Him through prayer and meditation that allows you to develop a deeper connection with Him?

Have you seen Him in the mundane of the everyday life such as a commute, a grocery store line, or a long hold on the phone?

Have you seen Him in the faces of the young person who is leaving home for the college adventure and dealing with all the excitement and emotion that accompanies that big step in life?

Have you seen Him in the many volunteers who rush to aid victims of floods, fires, or other natural disasters?

Have you seen Him in the faces of congregations across this world as they joyfully offer praises and thanks to Him in worship?

As Christians, we know that we are supposed to see Him in our lives every day growing, strengthening, guiding , and sustaining us everyday. However, for many of us, hearing the words, “Have you seen Him?” become just a cliche’ because many of us miss seeing Him in our every day lives because of the distractions all around us.

Even with the beauty of creation, the natural wonders of the world, the cycle of life, etc., we don’t take the time to really see Him. In this world, we heavily rely on what we can see as we face the circumstances of life which captures our focus and our attention.

God is never silent in our lives, and we only need to be aware of His presence to see Him. Finally brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; think on these things and you will see Him. (Phillippians 4:8)

I will probably never see Cecil, but I can say that I will see God in the everyday miracles of this life!