Midweek Message from the Archive
Know the Mystery
There is such joy in being the recipient of a secret. My grandchildren run up to me and whisper something in my ear that they want no one else to know. What a privilege for them to share their ‘secret’. That’s the spiritual blessing of Eph. 1:9:
“… making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ.”
If you’ve stayed with me all these weeks as we’ve unpacked the spiritual blessings in heavenly places, you’ll continue to understand our position in Christ. As I wrote last week about the extravagant grace which He showers on us, we see this week that it’s done in all wisdom and insight. God knows it all; He is omniscient. Being the all-knowing God, isn’t it amazing that He’s willing to reveal Himself to us? A mystery is something that’s hidden; it’s a secret, yet this verse tells us that He’s willing to share His secret with those of us who remain in Christ. It was a mystery hidden for generations but is now revealed to His saints (Col. 1:26-27); that’s us!
Jesus told His disciples in Mark 4:11 that they could know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Paul called servants of God ‘stewards of the mysteries‘. That’s a spiritual blessing reserved in heavenly places for believers. If you’re in a place in life where you need revelation, ask Him. He will whisper a secret in your ear; listen carefully.
Paul tells us that God Almighty is willing to share His transcendent knowledge with us in Christ. We are privileged to know, experientially, God’s will. Did you get that? We can know, when He chooses to reveal, His will in our life. We don’t have to be in a state of confusion because we have the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 2:6-16 tells us that God reveals secret and hidden wisdom to us by His Spirit. Look that up, it’s rich. In the same vein, if you speak in tongues (1 Cor. 14:2), Paul instructs us that we are ‘uttering mysteries in the Spirit’. Oh, the deep things of God.
Now, to be clear, there are some mysteries that stay hidden and others that teach us the ‘big picture’. For example, Rom. 11:25-26, “all Israel will be saved.” How and when that will happen remains hidden. Christ and the Church: a great mystery. However, in 1 Cor. 15:51 the mystery is revealed that we will be changed, morphed, into immortality at the final resurrection. Eph. 3:3-6 teaches us that salvation, the mystery of faith, is for Jew and Gentile alike; we can understand those truths.
It seems that God has us on a ‘need to know’ basis. As we seek Him for our lives, our families, churches, and country, He will reveal His secrets to us when He chooses. Oh Divine Mystery, reveal Yourself to us today.