Genie In a Bottle?

John 20:26 records Jesus appearing before the disciples even though the door was locked. Yes. . . yes, that’s what I need. If Jesus would simply materialize in front of me when I pray, I will believe.

I recall a time back in my college days when I struggled to find direction in my life. I was a weak Christian and an even weaker prayer warrior but my trials were too great to shoulder alone, so I begged the Lord to give me a sign. Actually, I did more than beg. I asked God to show up in my room and gave Him a deadline. I don’t remember the exact words but it went something like this: “Lord, if you’re real, I want you to make yourself visible to me, right here in my bedroom, by midnight tonight.”

I waited and watched the clock as the minutes ticked away. The closer midnight came the greater my anticipation. As the deadline drew near, a great anxiety came over me, a dread that is difficult for me to put into words. All of a sudden, I found myself hoping that nothing would happen. 11:59pm. . . 1 more minute. I was wide awake and shaking in fear. The next two minutes felt like an eternity. Would Jesus appear? What then? What if it wasn’t Jesus? Oh Lord save me! My thoughts were running wild.

I have never felt such relief as when 12:01am flashed on the face of my clock. Phew!!!! It’s over. Thank-you Jesus for not answering my prayer. Reminds you of a naive child, doesn’t it? However, in that moment, I was desperate. I truly wanted a sign but when the rubber met the road, I was unprepared to face my Lord. Looking back, I’m grateful for God’s mercy both in not showing up and in protecting me from the evil one impersonating an Angel of light.

If a “genie in the bottle” Christ is not the answer, if He doesn’t simply show up when summoned, then how are we to know His will? How does He speak to us? Where do I go to have two-way conversation instead of carrying on a monologue with myself? Over and over again, scripture reveals a God that speaks, a God that does not leave His people wondering but directs them in every step. This phenomena begs the question, “if He spoke so clearly then, where is the God of the Bible today?”

1 John 1:1-3 has the answer:

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

How do these verses provide an answer, you might ask? Let’s take a closer look. In John 1:1, 2 and 14, John identifies “that which was from the beginning” as Jesus, the Word of God. With this in mind, 1 John 1 is referring to Jesus. It is Christ whom the disciples have heard, seen, and looked upon. This description points to their close, daily relationship while He was here on earth. However, John adds one more statement to the mix that’s a game changer. He says in vs. 1 “and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life.” While this also indicates a close, tangible, physical relationship it’s much more than that.

To the Bible writers, God entrusted Divine Revelation. This Revelation they declared to us through spoken and written word. The Bible says, “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). In a real sense, the handling of the “Word of Life” in vs. 1 of 1 John 1, is not only their physical communion with Jesus while here on earth but their active part in writing the Bible. Furthermore, not only did the disciples write, but they also physically handled and read the holy scrolls that predated them.

Putting it altogether, notwithstanding their physical relationship with Christ, what John is relating to us in 1 Jn 1, is that they were able to get to know Jesus, in large part, through the handling of scripture. Through the pages of the Bible, they heard, saw, and looked upon the beauty of Christ. In the sacred oracles, Jesus Christ was manifested and this manifestation they now bear witness to and declare unto us. In vs. 4, John declares that through hearing, seeing, and looking upon the manifestation of Jesus, we fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

So what implication does this have for us? Simple! God has always been right where we need Him all along, yet we don’t seem to believe or maybe realize it. He’s there on our shelves, coffee tables, desks, electronic devices and anywhere else we keep the “Word of Life.” In this day and age, God primarily manifests Himself to us through the Bible. In the pages of the canon, we will find Jesus. We don’t just catch a glimpse of Him. According to John, we will hear, see, look upon, handle and fellowship with Christ.

Would you like Jesus to show up as soon as you call? Here’s the good news. He’s already there. I encourage you to go to your prayer closet with your Bible in hand. Open up the divine pages and fellowship with Him. I guarantee He will speak to you in ways you never thought possible.