God Shatters: Second Tuesday of Advent

My idea of God is not a divine idea. It has to be shattered time after time. He shatters it Himself. He is the great iconoclast. Could we not almost say that this shattering is one of the marks of His presence? the Incarnation is the supreme example; it leaves all previous ideas of the Messiah in ruins. And most are "offended" by the iconoclasm; and blessed are those who are not. But the same thing happens in our private prayers.
~ C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, p78

We have certain expectations for God. Those expectations are revealed mostly when life is not turning out the way we expected. If we turn to God in prayer during those moments of great difficulty, we often find ourselves disappointed in the way God intervened on our behalf. Usually we conclude that God didn't intervene. And so our image of God sours, and our heart for him shrivels.

An iconoclast is someone who destroys religious images, someone who attacks cherished beliefs. When considering the impact of the Incarnation, one can conclude that God is an Iconoclast. In Jesus, God shatters the old beliefs developed about YHWH. If the devout and pious Jews of ancient Israel struggled to come to terms with God, no wonder that we still do today.

The Jews of the first century had their difficulties, hardships which continually prompted them to seek God's intervention. When Jesus showed up and essentially announced that he was the answer to their prayers for God's intervention in the world - well this shattered a lot of assumptions about God. It may be that your assumptions about God need shattered.

For those who have grown up in the church and still have affection for God - the Incarnation is an opportunity to embrace anew God's idea of Himself. For those who have grown up in the church and have become indifferent to the LORD - or even loathe the idea of Him - the Incarnation is that moment when all your incomplete ideas of God can be shattered. And for those who have not grown up in the church and yet have their own understanding of God - the Incarnation can be a starting point for something real and wise.

My kingdom is not of this world.
John 18v36 (NIV)

Jesus continues to shatter everyone's image of God and the Kingdom. In the midst of our difficulties we may turn to God for help - and when he does, we are forced to deal with Him on his terms. This is where our image of God often shatters - God always deals with us on His terms. And yet the Incarnation reveals the great depths God will go to Be With Us and Be For Us.

As our expectations of God become shattered, may Jesus become the answer to our prayers of intervention amidst our hardships.