The movie, Taken is about an ex-government agent, killer, assassin whose daughter is kidnapped by slavers. The main character sets about to rescue her using the skills of his trade.. murder and mayhem. Throughout the movie his face reflects his grim determination. But what plays on his face when he finally rescues her? Is he a stern-faced, ruthless killer? Not with his daughter. Both the daughter and father are radiant with smiles, relief, and tears of joy.
If we expect that from a human father, why do we picture God so differently? Why do we see him in our mind’s eye with a stern stone-faced scowl? He is of course a frightening warrior, and righteous judge. Jesus Himself will return and end the world in fiery judgment. But that is not the whole picture of God. When He describes Himself to Moses he says:
Yahweh, Yahweh, 6The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6–7)
Notice which comes first and predominates in God’s own description of Himself. It is mercy, grace, patience, love and faithfulness.
Do you ever picture God with a smile? Check out Zephaniah’s prophetic description of God saving His people:
17The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Picture the living God rejoicing with gladness and loudly singing with joy over saving His people.
Now what’s on His face as God behaves this way? A scowl or a smile? Is his face dower and downcast or radiant with joy? That’s the God of the bible.Hebrews describes Jesus the same way:
“. . . Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
What lies ahead for Jesus, beyond the shame and agony of the cross is joy! That’s what He had his eye on when He chose to die for us.
When he describes the salvation of sinners returning to God, Jesus says:
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
God can’t even keep His joy over us to himself. He’s got to get the angels involved in the celebration! That’s the God of the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments.
And the good news is that He not only feels such joy over us, but He wants to share that with us. Jesus said:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1)
And He means it to be an on-going lifetime experience:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . .(Galatians 5:22)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (1 Peter 1:8)
Aren’t you glad that God’s heart can be filled with joy over us and that He wants us to enter into His joy with Him? What a Savior!