Humanity has sought to understand the mysteries of God yet all our efforts have been in vain and our theologies fall short. Civilization stands deceived except for the truth revealed through God’s Word and His Son, Jesus Christ. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God and is inevitably doomed to fail because the finite cannot perceive the infinite. All have proven inadequate (Romans 3:23) and all fail to fully comprehend the mysteries of God.
In Isaiah 55:8-9, the prophet writes, “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
The tragedy of religion as a human construct stems from the notion that when people strive to discover God, they manifest goodness and reach a righteousness that is derived through human effort. In essence, religion teaches that there is a direct correlation between good moral behavior and spiritual purity. That rather than being in need of a Savior, man defaults to a position of self-righteousness.
However, despite good moral behavior, humanity can remain lost. This plays directly into the strategy Satan has for mankind. Religion has never saved anyone from hell. Isaiah wrote, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
That is precisely why God incarnated as Jesus of Nazareth and willingly sacrificed Himself as atonement for the sins of the world. 1 John 4:10 teaches, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Atonement is and always has been one hundred per cent God and zero per cent man (https://www.partneredwithchrist.com/the-inception-of-atonement/).
MANKIND WRESTLES WITH THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
Ultimately, mankind wrestles with the sovereignty of God and desires autonomy. Interestingly, this was Lucifer’s pitfall which has been ungraciously bestowed upon humanity. Perhaps this is Satan’s revenge for being cast out of heaven and the reason that Jesus was often convoluted regarding His identity.
Had Satan been able to circumvent Christ’s destiny, he most certainly would have. He knew who Jesus was and he tempted Him in the desert, but Christ proved to be an immovable rock. And despite knowing His identity, he could not figure out His purpose. Even demons recognized Jesus (Matthew 8:28-34) but couldn’t determine His strategy.
It was vital for Jesus to evade the many attempts of the religious establishment to trap Him before His appointed time. Under Jewish laws, execution was to be carried out by stoning and Roman laws forbid execution for crimes related to Jewish religion, which meant the Jews needed to have the Romans execute Him. The Romans needed a scape goat to appease the Jews. And Jesus needed to be the unblemished Lamb, sacrificed for the sins of all people.
As it turned out, the physical enemies of Christ and their spiritual influencers did exactly what God required for the success of His redemptive game plan. They never saw Christ’s resurrection coming and inadvertently were the catalysts that brought about His sacrifice and ultimately the salvation of the world and judgement upon themselves.
God’s strategic plan was perfect and the culture at the time not only possessed the organizational structure (Pax Romana) to enable the crucifixion of Christ, it also facilitated the dissemination of the gospel in a manner that never existed previously. God carried out His redemptive plan in full view of the civilized world, all the while remaining covert to the spiritual darkness bent on stopping it.
Paul touched on this concept in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8: “We do, however, speak of a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
THE MOTIVES TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF GOD
The motives to know the mysteries of God have not always been pure. So often, people seek to gain the wisdom of the Almighty for personal gain, power and influence. The Pharisees are a case in point. Jesus recognized this and chose to speak in parables. “The disciples came to Him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of heaven has been given to you, and not to them. (Matthew 13:10-11).
Deuteronomy 29:29 declares, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” Once Christ had resurrected and conquered death, the verdict was established and there is nothing Satan can do but lie and deceive those who don’t know the truth about Jesus (which is the title of my coming book).
John wrote Revelation because God chose to disclose the fate of everyone as a testimony of His sovereignty and final judgements. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a Son of Man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’” (Revelation 1:12-18).
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
Jesus Christ – God incarnate, the only one worthy to break the seven seals and open the scroll because He was slain and with His blood He purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5). Jesus, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, has triumphed and will return to make His enemies a footstool for His feet.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself.
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.’ Revelation 19:11-15a).
God has revealed Himself in the pages of the Bible, through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. By incarnating as Jesus, He made Himself knowable, approachable, available and comprehensible. In Christ, humans can have a personal relationship with Almighty God.
Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things that God has prepared for those who love Him – these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.”
Thank you Lord for giving us a glimpse into your mysteries.
