The Invisibles and the Forgottenနမူနာ

Conclusion

We have briefly discussed four stories of people who were invisible in their societies and environments. But there are dozens of additional stories in the Bible that prove God is interested in the invisibles and the forgotten. He is compassionate towards us and understands us because He has been ignored and forgotten by many humans (His creation) and by His chosen people.

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭2‬-‭3, NIV‬).

He knows exactly how we feel, but He does not want us to view ourselves as invisibles or forgotten. His blood was the price He paid so that we could live in freedom, loved, chosen, and complete in Him. The most important thing is to love Him wholeheartedly, even if that love is imperfect, because it will be. You are not invisible to God; you are known by Him (Galatians 4:8-9).

He sees you when you don’t have a platform, microphone, followers, or likes. We are visible to the invisible God. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16, NIV‬).

Created through Him and for Him. You are here because of Him and for Him. Other people may forget you, discredit you, and treat you as if you were invisible, but remember these four lessons:

- don’t ask for position, yearn for vision

- trust in God and His Word

- bless the people He brings your way

- worship God

Even in your darkest hour, like Hagar when she fled Abram and Sarai’s house pregnant with Ishmael, God will sustain you and meet you in the desert. “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her. “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.” ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭14, NIV).

In 1977, NASA sent spacecraft Voyager 1 on a mission that 13 years later, after traveling 3.7 billion miles, produced one of the most iconic photos of the last century. The photo, known as “The pale blue dot,” shows a ray of light crossing the darkness of space. Suspended in that beam of light there is a minuscule blue dot, like the dot in letter i, that was a global sensation. That small dot was planet Earth.

You and I live on that pale blue dot, and seen from that perspective, it’s easy to feel more invisible and insignificant. However, those who have experienced His love and grace, can shift focus from the dot to the God who created and sustains millions and millions of galaxies. Our insufficiency, frailty, and invisibility pale in comparison to His majesty and power, and the knowledge that our God is not a distant God.

He is close to us, knows our deepest thoughts, keeps our tears in a bottle and a record of them in His book (Psalm 56:8, CSB). Our God knows how many hairs are on our head and loved us so much He gave His son to die for us, and it’s because of that sacrifice and resurrection that we have eternal life, value, and hope. If God can see and hear you from such a minuscule dot in the Universe, then what’s astonishing is not the dot, what’s astonishing is God.

Other dots in the dot may ignore you, but He will not. Don’t live as an invisible anymore; you are chosen by God, heir of God, and co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17, NIV). Live with the certainty that you are loved, joyous in the truth that God knows your name and that no one is invisible to Him.

“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:8-10, 14, NIV).

Prayer

Father, what a marvelous God you are! Your works are astounding and incomprehensible. I am unable to express how grateful I am to be known by the God who created the Universe. You sustain it all in your hand, and although we are small amongst galaxies, you are near to us, and you live in me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me! Help me to live in awareness of your majesty and sovereignty, confident that the same power that raised Jesus back to life dwells in me. You hear my prayers and songs of worship, you wipe away my tears, and call me by name. Thank you for never rejecting me, even when others do. Thank you for being my helper and redeemer. Forgive me for believing the lies of the enemy that I am invisible or that you have forgotten me. I surrender those thoughts at the foot of the cross where you proved once and for always that you are the God that sees us. Help me to live as a loved, chosen, and redeemed child. I am not invisible. I am not forgotten. I am known and loved by you. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.