The medium is the message
Social scientists use interesting words to describe the time in which we live. You probably heard the words "pre-modern", "modern" or "postmodern". In fact, some call the time we live now a postmodern world. Social scientists also suggest different techniques for effective communication for each generation, be it the Builders, the Boomers, the Busters, the X-ers, the Y-ers, Z-ers. or the "Mosaic".
But no matter what world we live in, real communication only occurs when both parties go beyond listening and speaking to a level of understanding. Communication specialists tell us that speaking and listening are not ends, but means to an end. True understanding is the goal of communication. Just because a person feels better because "they poured out their thoughts" or otherwise thinks they have fulfilled their obligation because you have listened to the other person and let them speak, does not necessarily mean that you have actually understood that person. And if you didn't really understand each other, you didn't really communicate - you just talked and listened without understanding. With God it is different. God not only shares his thoughts with us and listens to us, he communicates with us with understanding.
First, he gives us the Bible. The Bible is not just a book; it is a self-disclosure of God to us. Through the Bible, God communicates who he is, how much he loves us, the gifts that he gives us, as we can get to know him, and the best way how we can organize our lives. The Bible is a road map to the abundant life that God wants to give us as his children. But as great as the Bible is, it is not the highest form of communication. The highest form of communication of God is the personal revelation through Jesus Christ - and we learn from it through the Bible.
One place where we see this is Hebräer 1,1-3“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” God communicates his love to us by becoming one of us, by sharing our humanity, our pain, our trials, our worries, and taking our sins upon himself, forgiving them all, and preparing for us, with Jesus, a place at the Father’s side.
Even Jesus' name communicates God's love for us: the name "Jesus" means "The Lord is salvation". And another name for Jesus is Immanuel, which means God with us. Jesus is not only the Son of God, but also the Word of God, revealing the Father and the Father's will to us.
The Gospel of John tells us:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Joh 1,14)“As Jesus tells us in Johannes 6,40He says it is the Father's will "that whoever looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life." God himself has taken the initiative for us to get to know him, and he invites us to communicate with him personally by reading Holy Scripture, through prayer, and through fellowship with other people who know him. He already knows you. Isn't it time you got to know him?
by Joseph Tkach
