What Does God Look Like? Discovering God's Character Through Jesus

There's a delightful story about a kindergarten Sunday School teacher who noticed one of her students working diligently with crayons and paper. When she asked what he was drawing, the boy confidently replied, "A picture of God." Surprised, the teacher gently reminded him that nobody knows what God looks like. Without missing a beat, the little boy looked her square in the eye and declared, "They will when I'm finished."

While we admire the child's determination, the truth is that truly knowing someone goes far beyond recognizing their picture. To know a person means understanding their character, their heart, their spirit. The same is true with God.

Different Images of God

How do we perceive God? People often carry various images and metaphors. Some view God as a cosmic vending machine—insert good deeds and prayers like coins, and blessings drop from the sky. Others see God as a distant clockmaker who wound up the world and walked away, no longer involved in creation or human life. Still others picture God as a stern taskmaster, more ready to condemn than to offer forgiveness and salvation.

So who is God? What is God truly like?

God Revealed in Jesus

Scripture Lesson: Colossians 1:15-20 "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

When the Colossians asked this question, Paul didn't offer them a portrait or a list of facts. Instead, he pointed to Jesus, declaring that God is revealed in Jesus—God is like Jesus, and Jesus is like God.

The Greek word for "image" is eikon, from which we get our English word "icon"—a symbol representing reality. Jesus is God in the flesh, the very image of God in all fullness. He's not just a prophet, teacher, or pathway to God; he is the fullness of God himself. When we see Jesus, we see God.

What God Is Like

Through Jesus, we discover God's character:

God is Creator - Not just someone who once created the world, but one who continues creating. Every conception, every marriage, every new beginning reflects God's ongoing creative work. The same imagination that designed infinite varieties of life is still working in our lives today.

God is Majestic - The one who paints skies with vibrant hues, who is as vast as oceans and as magnificent as mountains. God appreciates variety and the beauty of life in all its forms.

God is Head of the Church - Through community, God gives us places to begin again, to become who we're called to be, and to belong. We find completeness in relationship with each other, discovering meaningful service that has eternal significance.

God is Lord of Life - As "firstborn of the dead," God's love extends beyond our earthly existence. Nothing can separate us from Christ's love—not even death itself.

God is Reconciler - Rather than leaving us distant from divine love, God comes searching for us. In Jesus, God offers mercy, forgiveness, and welcome into the divine family.

Our Response

What do we do with this revelation? Just as breathtaking pictures or stirring descriptions motivate us to visit beautiful locations, Paul's purpose isn't merely to give us facts about God's creating, welcoming, resurrecting, and reconciling nature. It's to captivate our imagination so completely that we want to participate in God's life—to experience the fullness of God's love, presence, power, and grace for ourselves.

So what does God look like? We'd need that kindergartener's crayon drawing to answer that. But what is God like? God's character, heart, mind, and will are revealed perfectly in Jesus Christ.