“You know that Jake goes home and prepares a gourmet dinner every night for himself and his wife!”
My colleague was sharing a story about one of his partners in his pathology group, whom I also knew. He was a renaissance man: a world expert in head and neck pathology, an accomplished artist working with stained glass, a wine connoisseur, and now I find out, an expert chef.
“How does he find the time?” I queried. “What do you mean by gourmet dinner?”
“Take a look, he showed me some photos from his dinner the other night.”
I marveled at the impressive spread: duck confit, spinach mousse, and wild rice paired with a hearty Syrah wine. I quickly closed my mouth as I salivated.
“And he does something like this every night?”
My colleague shook his head. “Amazing, isn’t it? Makes me feel so unworthy!”
“Right?” I was duly impressed. A few weeks later, I saw Jake at a conference. “Jake! Been hearing so many amazing things about you, even more than usual!”
He laughed. “Yes, they finally took my photo down from the Post Office!”
“That’s right! You’re no longer a felon! Hey, your partner was sharing photos of a gourmet dinner that you made, the one with the duck confit. Amazing! How do you find the time to do this every night?”
Jake looked at me and chuckled. “Oh that meal! I cook every night but maybe only once a month do I make a special meal like that!”
“My apologies, I was told you prepare a gourmet meal like that every evening.”
“Interesting. That’s the third time I have heard this. Fascinating how one special dinner has ballooned into this urban legend.”
I nodded. “Well, you ARE a legend. I think when most of us heard about it, we were impressed but not surprised.”
“Ah yes, this is how my legend grows!” He winked, flashing a sly smile.
It was interesting that although the story was stretching the truth, all of us believed it since it would not have been out of character for Jake to do this. Our minds are very adept at filling in the missing pieces when it agrees with our preconceived notions. What about God? Many people have preconceived notions about who God is. He is an old man sitting on a throne and manipulating events for His pleasure. He is a mighty being but not omnipotent since He is unable to completely control the evil in this world. With so many misrepresentations of God, it is not surprising that we attempt to fit God into our lives with preconceived notions of who we think He is. Who does God say He is?
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
John 14:8-9 (NKJV)
Why did Jesus Christ say this to His disciple, Philip? For three years, the twelve disciples were with Jesus nearly every moment of the day. They listened to His teachings. They witnessed countless miracles. They heard Him prophesy about His death and resurrection. They saw the risen Christ for forty days who then ascended to Heaven and returned to God, the Father. Every action that Jesus did on earth was God present in human form.
We do not have to wonder who God is. God revealed Himself to mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. No preconceived notions. No filling in the blanks. He is the King of Kings and Lord and Lords!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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