Different but One

God has all these characteristics (mighty, powerful, just, humble, meek, compassionate, strong, victorious, etc), 'roles' we know Him in and names we know Him by (Father, Savior, the Good Shepard, Creator, Lord, the Lamb, Alpha and Omega, etc) within His nature.

My friend and I were talking today about being true to ourselves and authentic in all situations about who were are, no matter what. It's a value to both of us that is really important and key to how we live our lives. In different roles we have, we have to dress differently. Who we are is not how we dress. Different roles we are required to put on different clothes. But who we are in those roles are all the same person, regardless of how different we look. And when we are required to put on different clothes because of a different role, it is just demonstrating a different characteristic that is always there.

For example, as a journalist I have to get professional in heels, pencil skirt, blouse and soft waves, but if you catch me at other times I'd look completely different. Working out, I'd have a pair of Nike shoes, shorts, athletic tee shirt, ponytail, and no make-up. Catch me on a normal day I'll have skinny jeans, vans, a Christian hardcore/metal band tee or v-neck plain shirt, and maybe a zip-up hooded jacket. Or maybe a sundress with sandals. But I'm just being me. I'm not being a different person, I'm all the same person and my personality and character hasn't changed, just certain aspects are brought out depending on what I'm doing.

I have finally learned in a whole new way than ever before to let myself be free to just be me, and not worry about people understanding because I know who I am and am staying true and authentic to myself. For example, I used to not be very open about liking heavy music even though it was a huge passion of mine and a part of who I am for years. I have been asked by many people, how can I be so "sweet and caring" but love such heavy music (which comes off as [and in many ways is] violent and angry)? How can I be both, when they are what seems opposites or completely different characteristics? The answer is people don't know me completely if they don't understand.

I think we do the same thing to God at times, when we ask how He can be the Lion and Lamb, Lowly and Exalted, Just and Merciful (etc). Yet, it's a really beautiful thing to me that God is both!

I was so encouraged looking at God, knowing who He is, and seeing how He has put on many different "clothes or forms", has many characteristics, but they are all unchanging and one in who He is... all the time.

In learning to marry together all the unique ways God has made me and accept them as one, I also am able to be challenged to see all the characteristics of God in all His roles as a whole. I can see Him better as all of who He is -at all times- instead of separating or focusing only at one as true at different times. It is a more complete picture of who God is, and more true. My understanding is deepened.

I was thinking through some examples how differently God appears at times to us and am just amazed thinking through how the same God who was lowly and put on human flesh, bearing the scars of crucifixion is the same God who is a victorious King and Warrior with fire in His eyes and a thigh tattoo, clothed in glory and splendor.

We read in the gospels how God came as Jesus Christ and put on flesh. He came as Savior, yet He still was all that God is ("I and the Father am one" John 10:30; 14:10; 17:20). He didn't just 'change clothes' but completely put on a lowly human form. I love reading Revelation 1 and 19, where we get pictures of Jesus different than the ones we imagine in the gospels (Jewish, human, meekly, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him" [Isaiah 53:2]).

In Revelation 1:13-16, Jesus is described as "clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength." Just, overwhelming glory, power, beauty, and holiness that John said he "fell at His feet as though I was dead."

And Jesus Christ just sounds like a badass (can I say that? CAUSE HE IS) in Revelation 19:11-16:

Reading those words about Christ speaks to so many of His characteristics that are still who He is; but it looks differently than other passages about Him, doesn't it? But He is still the same, and He is still one.

In many passages of the Bible in books (like Psalms and Job), God is clothed in such mystery and wonder. God is bigger than I can wrap my mind around! "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered" (Job 36:26). 1 Corinthians 13:12 talks about how "now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." There are so many passages that describe Creator God, and I can't imagine the form of God who created everything formed- lighting, every creature and all creation, the stars and mountains... it is like this mystery of wonder that God is bigger than I can imagine or see with my small eyes. He is also 'invisible' and 'unseen', in one way.

God is Spirit (John 4:24). And then we have the Holy Spirit who lives and resides within us and we are His temple. Mind blown, right?

God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: and He is one.

I could use so many more examples from Scripture, but I think one thing I took away from this was a beautiful picture of God in full view (which I will never be able to completely encapsulate and will forever search out to know more fully because God is more than I can grasp) with all these many characteristics and roles becoming one into a whole Person that is still true.

For me personally as well, I gained a clearer idea what it looks like to be true to who you are while accepting how that looks in different roles and how that can be. I am a whole person with a lot of different characteristics. I am not a different person in all the roles I have or ways I look in those, they all are me. I can be all these things and still be myself. I am actually made in the image of God, and He is conforming me daily more into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)! So many of these unique characteristics I know are me (that can seem different from each other) is simply the way God made me! It brings Him glory when I am free to be who He made me to be, completely.

And taking this all one step further, as the body of Christ, we have a lot of different characteristics, roles, and ways we look. But we are all one and united in Christ. We are still the body, and just because one role wears different clothes doesn't mean it's not a part or isn't remaining true. Being different is just diversity, and just because something things about one thing are different does not mean they can't be paired together.

I think in many ways we as individuals or we as the diverse body of Christ reflect and embody different characteristics of God, which as His children we should! It is a really cool thing to see and think about. I think the more we know about God and are able to understand Him more fully and wholly, we will be able to have more unity in diversity and be able to bring together the many different things as one in Him. Above all, we are called to "put on Christ" and be clothed in Him (Romans 13:14). And in all this, He is conforming us more into His image to reflect His glory.