Kalwall
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 1:1-3
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Christ] ... Colossians 1:19
Are you familiar with Kalwall? It's a translucent build?ing material that allows light to shine through. It serves as a skylight in our church's sanctuary. Though Kalwall is translucent, it's not transparent. You cannot see trees or people through it. You can't even see the source of the light that shines through. You can't tell if the light is from an artificial source or from the sun.
We could say that nature is like Kalwall. It's translucent; it lets the glory of God shine through, but it's not transparent. It does not enable you to see the God whose glory shines through all that exists. Nature does not enable us to put a face on the glory.
This may help explain not only why there is religion--people encounter glory--but also why there are so many religions. When it's seen through nature, the source of glory is ambiguous. No one can climb outside our universe to take a firsthand look.
Jesus, who comes from the Father, puts a face on glory. As Hebrews says, he "is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." He is the glory that shines through all that's fair. Jesus is transparent. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father," he said (John 14:9).
In Jesus, we know the source of the glory that shines in the goodness that surrounds us all.
Lord Jesus, you came not only to reveal the Father to us but also to bring us to the Father. May we follow you always. In your saving name we pray. Amen.
About the author — Jack Roeda
Rev. Jack Roeda is the senior pastor at Church of the Servant Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and an adjunct professor of preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is married to Carol Sue Kok, and they have three children and two grandchildren. Pastor Roeda has served two previous churches: Exeter (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church and Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan.
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