The God who smiles

And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:17 KJV

Does God have a sense of humor? Does He smile or laugh with joy? Sherwood Elliot Wirt would answer “Yes!” to all three questions.

Wirt, however, was not always of that opinion. He grew up in a Christian home but quickly shed all of the Christian influence in a secular university. After he tried his hand reporting for newspapers and doing a stint in the military, Wirt ended up as the pastor of a church where preparing messages was more of a drudgery for him than a joy. Wirt’s biggest problem was that he was talking about a God he did not know and certainly one in whom he did not believe.

Wirt’s “about-face” came in April of 1954 when he watched a film of Billy Graham’s London crusade at Waterloo Station. Wirt met Jesus Christ, and the encounter forever changed his life.

Wirt contends that two passages demonstrate that God smiles. God said, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Wirt comments, “Allow me to ask you, when one finds delight, what does one do? Smile? Usually; and since the Bible says we are all made in the image and likeness of the heavenly Father, I dare to suggest that God Himself at that point was smiling.”

The second passage that he believes also proves his point is at the transfiguration, when God says, “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!” Wirt quickly acknowledges that everyone doesn’t agree with him. In fact, many people think God has no sense of humor and never smiles.

God does smile. And when I cross heaven’s threshold and hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” I expect to see One who is smiling.

Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. Psalm 112:1-6