Who is God’s friend, and does God even have friends? Is being a “friend of God” reserved for ancient Biblical heroes such as Abraham, or does he want to be friends with you and me too? Let’s try to answer that question using science, the Bible and a little bit of plain old common sense!  

First, think about the unique design he gave to every single person he created. We all look so different and have such vastly diverse personalities, so much so, that we each have an amazing, intuitive ability to pick a friend out of a throng of people.   Just consider the last time you went to a big event where hundreds of people crowded around, yet you could instantly recognize your friends!  I remember one time in a crowded airport, how I noticed my friend who was walking away from me – just by the way he walked!  

I was recently introduced to a CEO of a facial recognition company who explained how their equipment was capable of taking a picture of someone in a crowd and instantly identify them against a worldwide database. Their software uses facial biometrics – measuring the distances between your eyes, eyes and nose, and eyes and lips, coupled with complex algorithms which distinguish you from everyone else.

If we can pull a friend out of a crowd, and an unfeeling computer can identify you instantly, isn’t it logical to conclude that your Creator knows you intimately? Yes, Almighty God, the One who made you and has counted the hairs on your head – he knows you!  He recognizes every little detail about you – from what’s on the outside, to your thoughts, your history and what is hidden away in your heart.

That is why Jesus wants to have a great relationship with you.   He doesn’t want to simply recognize you like the unfeeling software of a computer. He wants to have a personal relationship so he can talk with you, hang out you, and be your friend. He wants us to read his Book so we can discover more about him! He even said, “I no longer call you servants. . . Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn 15:15).

Yes, Jesus wants to spend time with us, talk with us and share his wisdom with us, just like best friends.  When we spend time with him, he will rub off on us – the same way any close friend does.   When you call on God or knock on his door, he will welcome you like an old friend and say, “It’s so good to see you again!”