1 John 4:12
[12] “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
Atheists will say that God does not exist. They will say that they do not believe in his existence because no one has ever actually seen God. They will also argue, that even if he did exist, it would be impossible for him to be everywhere at the same time. Yet they believe in something as simple as the air they breathe. Air is not visible, but we know it exists. Air is everywhere at the same time, and it is not something that you can physically see, even though it is right in front of you. Air is important for every human life, for without air we will cease to live. Air is nothing more than a testimony to the existence of the one who created it. I want to be clear to the reader that God is more real than the air we breathe, and that we need him more.
Our verse teaches us that no man has seen God, but through brotherly love he can be seen. He can be known to a cold world that does not know his love. On a cold winter day you can stand outside and see the air coming out of your mouth or nostrils. The extreme temperature causes the invisible to become visible. This world does not need to see us, but they need to see the love of God in the lives of believers toward one another.
I’m reminded of a night, when in a local restaurant after church, that the waiter approached me. He invited me to his house that night to talk to him and his family about the Bible. I was able to give the family the gospel that night and pray with them. I asked the gentleman what prompted him to invite me over at such an hour. He said, “I have been watching you, and your members, come in and fellowship. My family and I want to have the love that you all have for each other. He said, “I told my wife that it must be a love from above.” At that moment I realized the invisible had been made visible!