The Deity is in the Details
What makes the BMW’s original 3-series wagon, the E30 Touring, beautiful? The simple two-box shape? The understated design? The rad retro interior, with its instrument panel canted toward the driver? Its perfect proportions? A row of six (or four) evenly spaced intake runners under the hood?
America never officially got this wagon, but enough have been imported at this point that most car folks intent on seeing one have seen one. Invariably, something will stand out that isn’t immediately obvious from pictures on Instagram. Maybe it’s the optional headlight wipers, which are common enough on Volvos of a certain age but unusual on BMW’s quad-headlight configuration. One wiper mechanism contains two tiny arms and blades and pivots from one point to wipe two headlight lenses at the same time. It’s just another fascinating engineering feature on an already eye-catching car.
Beauty can be found in all parts of the E30 Touring. Yet different people will appreciate different parts. The relationship between God and his followers operates this way too. Certain attributes of God are obvious and universally praised: his eternality, creative power, and unfailing love are just three examples. In addition to these, the Bible is full of certain people praising God for certain attributes that they find particularly fascinating or important.
The people of Israel were largely nomadic and lived in tents, which could explain why God’s security as an impenetrable shelter or refuge was so important: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)
Throughout the story of Job, the main character praises God for a variety of wonders found in Creation. He even acknowledges distinct constellations, and the “movement” of the sun and stars: “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.” (Job 9:9)
Humankind’s longing for freedom despite a penchant for enslaving ourselves and other people are two topics that fascinated Paul. He seemed to be fascinated by a person’s willingness to completely surrender their autonomy to something else – or how a person thinks they can assert their will over someone else’s life – and how God’s desire for human freedom must surely motivate the freedom and forgiveness he gives. Paul describes people as being “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6), but “now that you have been set free from sin and have becomes slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Romans 6:22) The book of Philemon deals mostly with Philemon’s runaway slave named Onesimus. Paul happened to meet Onesimus and urged him to return home, while urging Philemon to forgive Onesimus and treat him “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.” (Philemon 16)
The specific attributes of God that you find fascinating will impact how you think about God. For a good spiritual exercise, try focusing on just one that speaks loudly to you. Maybe God’s love softens your heart when it reaches you at your lowest. Maybe his sense of humor assures you of his individual care when you find yourself learning from a teachable moment that seems too personally relevant to be coincidental. Maybe miracles, recorded in the Bible and still taking place today, remind you that God’s power isn’t confined by earthly limits. It could be any one of these things or something else. God has no shortage of wonderful attributes.
E30 Touring devotees come in many forms. Some install air-bag suspension and dial in generous negative camber for that slammed look. Others strip them and track them. At least a few people restore and preserve them. Many more put dogs/camping gear/luggage in the back and just drive them, appreciating little quirks while soaking in the goodness of the whole thing. Likewise, God is calling you today to interact with Him in your own personal way.
