God is Morgan Freeman

 

I like Morgan Freeman. I think if I knew him, I would instantly love him as a person.  From an outsiders perspective, he seems wise, kind, humorous, compassionate, caring, humble, fatherly... loving. If I were to need a hug and I was standing next to Morgan Freeman, I assume he would meet me where I was, and give me a warm, comforting hug and then invite me out for ice cream to hear about the issues of my heart.

Whether this is true or not, is not the point.

The point is this... The person I assume Morgan Freeman to be, is the person I instantly feel connected to, that I instantly like, that I feel safe with.

Here's the problem... I also had this image of God being like Morgan Freeman
.

Honestly I saw God as being just like Morgan Freeman. Is this a bad image? Not at all. However, there was a time when I had a hard time seeing God like Morgan Freeman. (of course, when complicated, tough things come our way, and we try and take control... often things end up looking confusing and unclear)

Because I saw a God that seemed so unlike the God I had come to know
.

The God I knew was the God who loves freely, eternally, infinately... with no boundaries. The God who is big; bigger than us, who doesn't need us, but wants us more than anything. The God who chooses to know us as holy and righteous, precious sons and daughters of the King... royal with no shame. The God who meets us where we are, who loves to provide, who longs for relationship with us... deep intimacy. The God whose heart breaks for us; whose heart knows joy for us, whose heart loves us, whose heart is that we would know him... just know him, and experience they joy of what comes in the full package.

And this is the promised package... we know his heart, we become transformed and fulfilled, living in truth and freedom, not having to be burdened, not having to do life alone, but with a greater power and companion. Knowing we have been called to something great, that we have desires and passions he has given us. Knowing he equips us and walks us through life, taking joy in surprising us with just how much he loves us, and how we have been given a true form of grace; undeserved favor.

So then I talked to a very wise friend of mine, who loved God and knew God in the same way. I remember our conversation like it was yesterday.

I said "He just doesn't look like Morgan Freeman right now!"

He said "So who's better, God or Morgan Freeman?"

"Well, I guess God, because he created Morgan Freeman."

But it got me thinking. If we are made by the Creator, and in his own image... if it is he who makes us up... then he must be like Morgan Freeman, but so much more! He is in us, we were created in his image; therefore all mankind, who people are at the very core of their soul, the very essence of their being, THIS is what God looks like. Not our actions, but in our original makeup. How sad it was, that I was basing such a God, on one man who couldn't compare.

In such a diverse world, we have an even more diverse God.

Which means this: I can't try to put God in a human box. Because he created us. He is bigger, greater, and better then I could ever imagine... but grasping that bit by bit, time and time again, is enough. It is enough to fill me and overflow me.

That is the type of God we get to come into relationship with. Where we are all made in his image, and when we come together, we can see an even clearer, more beautiful picture of who God is. Just looking at one person would be a menial view of God. Even so, he is so great that we  can still see his glory in a single human being.

So is God like Morgan Freeman? No

Morgan Freeman is like God.