The Rorschach GodSample

The Father is Life, Light, and Love:
​​It’s once again fitting for us to visit the writings of John to discover the unchanging beauty and wonder of the character and nature of God. I believe that John’s revelation of other-centered, self-sacrificial agape inspired him to write on a much more mystical plane of truth than many of the other New Testament writings. John leans into truths about God that we could consider absolutes. But these rock-solid truths don’t come across dogmatically; rather, they emanate as pure life, light, and love from the very Person of Jesus. The “otherness” of God does not threaten us; instead, we are invited to taste and see that He is good (see Psalm 34:8).

John’s first letter opens with a declaration of Jesus’ key message: God is Life, Light, and Love, and there is no darkness in Him. These declarations provide the bold clarity needed to understand the mystical truths he goes on to write about our beloved and trustworthy Father.

Above all things and through all things, the Godhead reveals itself through these characteristics. There is no darkness, no more shadowy imagery concerning God. It’s also of great comfort to discover that Jesus didn’t reveal these things as something new about God but about what He has ALWAYS been—Life, Light, and Love.

God Is Life

Life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.—1 John 1:1-4 (ESV)

God Is Light

“This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in Him” —1 John 1:5 (MSG)

God Is Love

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:38-39

There’s no God who differs from Jesus. In the Son of God, we witness every perfection of God shining brightly—love, power, wisdom, justice, and majesty—all distinct from our sinful expectations. In the Son of God, we don’t perceive a proud God, unwilling to show kindness.

Instead, we see one who extends saving grace even when we were still sinners. We witness glory in Him, unlike our selfish and needy desires for attention. We encounter a God of boundless generosity. He is flawless in every aspect: an overflowing wellspring of goodness. In Jesus— and only in Him— we discover the unveiled face of God, free from our “Rorschach Imagery,” as one who is breathtakingly beautiful and captivates our hearts.

Thank you for joining me on this 10-day journey. I pray that over the course of this plan, your eyes have been opened to the true, amazing nature of our Heavenly Father. If you're hungry for more, I encourage you to check out my full book, The Rorschach God, by visiting LINK .

Sincerely,

Matthew Hester