I like explanations, to know how things work. That’s always
been who I am. According to my mother, even as a small child I took apart my
toys, destroying them in the process of trying to figure out how they worked. I
do remember getting a school bus for Christmas that had lights in it that flashed
and motors that whirred. I was perhaps 6
or 7 and that toy ended up a pile of parts on the living room floor, much to
the chagrin of the grandmother who purchased it for me. Sometimes it’s just better to enjoy the thing
for what it is, admitting that we do not yet understand all things.
In my reading of Paul’s letter to the Romans, I came recently
to chapters 9, 10, and 11; a long discussion of the place of “Israel” and the
Gentiles in the scope and reach of God’s plan, of a doctrine we call ‘election.’ I read the words but struggle with the meaning.
Like my younger self with those intriguing toys, I want to tear it apart to try to see how it works, to fit Paul’s
inspired words into my sense of what is just and right. I wonder how can a good
and loving God choose some for salvation and others for destruction? Who is ‘Israel,’
the Jewish people, the literal descendants of Abraham, or is he speaking of all
those who are adopted into God’s family when they respond to Him in faith? My
point today is to not solve the questions found in these chapters! I urge us to approach God’s Word with
humility, so that He can form us, not so that we can rewrite Scripture to
‘fit’ our sensibilities!
There are questions about God, His Word, and His will that I
must resolve to humbly allow to exist,
alongside of faith. In time, with
maturity, study, and the revelation of the Spirit there are truths that become
clearer. And there is clearly a need for us to admit that He is God and we are
not. Even Paul humbly bows his head at
the end of those chapters to admit that he cannot possibly know the whole mind
of the Lord. "Oh, the depth of the
riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and
his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has
been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory
forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)
I am not making a case for laziness, or for refusing to ask
hard questions in our study. We grow as we wrestle with Truth, allowing God’s
word to shape and form our mind. But, there are things we cannot know yet, which may be revealed to us later
on. As much as we might want to know, our Father lovingly asks for our trust, a
faith that is settled in Jesus’ promise first given to the disciples as they
were about to watch Him die on the Cross. He said that they would have a Guide
for the way. “Oh, there is so much more I
want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will
be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will
bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me." (John
16:12-14, NLT)
Today, thank Him for His wisdom. Open your heart and mind to
Him, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead. Allow Him to create faith in you for
those things yet mystery to you.
"O LORD, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your
glory above the heavens.
From the lips of
children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to
silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your
heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set
in place,
what is man that you
are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little
lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler
over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and
herds,
and the beasts of the
field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths
of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how
majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8, NIV)
______________
Mystery
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven broken for me
Cup of Salvation held out to drink
Jesus mystery
Christ has died and
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes proclaim His coming
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes lift your eyes
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Charlie Hall
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