The Unknown God

"Raised near the mountains of Sandpoint, Idaho, novelist Marilynne Robinson remembers sensing God's presence there long before she had a name for him. "I was aware to the point of alarm of a vast energy of intention, all around me," she writes, "barely restrained, and I thought everyone else must be aware of it."" (For the rest of the article see here).

When I read this it took my mind back along a road it has been travelling since Thursday 18th February (I know because I keep a journal). On that day I read a commentary on Chapter 1 section 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Oh what exciting lives we pastors live!) where the writer was talking about an "absolute First Cause" and a "great First Cause". I reckon there are many people who believe in some kind of "First Cause" but do not know who He is.  Like the Philosopher's of Athens (Acts 17) who had an altar to an Unknown God; like philiosopher's throughout history who talk of "god"; like seekers after Reality; like people who believe in Intelligent Design, but who do not know who the Designer is; like the Puliziter Prize winning author Marilynne Robinson who was aware of God long before she had a name for him.

And some of our friends and family are in the same situation. they know "Someone" or "Something" is "out there" but they do not know "what" or "who". Then its up to us to tell them His Name!  YHWH, our Father and Creator revealed in His Son, Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer.

The next time someone says to you "I think there must be 'Something" out there" - just tell them his name and address and watch God work.