FROM CREATION TO CHRIST "DIVINE PERSONALITY."

 A WOMAN GOES INTO A SHOP TO BUY A HAT. THE ASSISTANT SUGGESTS FIRST THIS ONE, THEN THAT ONE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE-- UNTIL FINALLY SHE PRODUCES ONE SHE INSISTS, " SUITS MADAM PERFECTLY."  THE ASSISTANT IS SUGGESTING THAT THE HAT EXPRESSES HER CLIENTS PERSONALITY SIMILARLY,  HUMAN BEINGS PUT A VARIETY OF "PERSONALITY HATS" ON GOD'S HEAD."  SOME PUT ACADEMIC HAT ON HIM. AFTER ALL, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. (JOHN 21:17).  SOME PUT A POLICEMAN'S HAT ON HIM. THEY THINK OF HIM AS ONE WHO CONSTANTLY SPIES ON THEM FROM THE HEIGHTS OF HEAVEN TO CATCH THEM WHEN THEY DO WRONG WHEN THEY DO WRONG.  PSALM 139: 1-12; GENESIS 3:8- 10. THERE ARE THOSE THAT PUT A CHIEF'S HAT ON GOD. THEY BELIEVE HE EXISTS MERELY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF FOOD AND DRINK. PSALM 145: 15,16. SOME COMPLAIN WHEN THEY FEEL HE IS NOT GENEROUS AS HE MIGHT BE. OTHERS THINK OF  GOD AS KIND A HEAVENLY FATHER CHRISTMAS, OR SANTA CLAUS, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SUPPLY THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF PLEASANT THINGS TO OWN AND ENJOY. SOME GET A LITTLE PEEVED WITH HIM WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO SHORT OF SOMETHING. MATTHEW 6:31, 32a. MANY LOOK ON A MAGICIAN'S HAT AS A "MUST." FOR THEY THINK OF GOD AS THE GREAT MIRACLE WORKER, EXODUS 7-10; 14: 10-31. MANY BELIEVE THAT A CROWN IS AN APPROPRIATE HAT FOR GOD. THE BIBLE OFTEN USE WORDS LIKE "KING " AND "KINGDOM" WHEN REFERRING TO HIM, PSALM 24:7-10; MARK 1:15. BECAUSE MANY UNINFORMED PEOPLE VIEW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE MERELY AS A MATTER OF "DO" AND "DON'T," THEY THINK OF A PURITAN'S HAT AS A SUITABLE GARB FOR GOD, MARK 10: 17-2. SOME THINK OF GOD WHEN THEY ARE SICK, PSALM 103:3; MARK 5: 21-43, REMARKABLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO ASK., " WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS"? WHEN THEY ARE SICK, BUT SLOW TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION WHEN THEY ARE WELL. THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE MESSAGES OF ALL THESE HATS. EACH REFLECTS SOMETHING OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES. IT IS ESSENTIAL, HOWEVER,, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD'S ALL-EMBRACING QUALITY IS LOVE. THIS BINDS ALL OF HIS OTHER QUALITIES TOGETHER AS A CORD BINDS THE STALKS IN A SHEAF OF HAY.  GOD IS WHAT HE-IS NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF HIM. OUR TASK IS TO COME TO GRIPS WITH HIS SELF- DESCRIPTION, HIS CHARACTER AND HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS. HE ONCE DID WEAR A HAT AND IT WAS MADE OF "THORNS." HE DID NOT CHOOSE IT FOR HIMSELF. MEN FASHIONED IT AND PLACED IT ON HIM IN MOCKERY..
HOWEVER, WHAT THEY PLACED THERE WILL SERVE A USEFUL TEACHING PURPOSE FOR US.