Mystery. Intrigue. Things that are difficult or impossible to explain. From the miracle of birth to the creation of each new sunrise, we’re drawn to things that are revealed before us and yet escape our full understanding. Our minds are created to know more. Authors and filmmakers go to great effort and expense to allure us to the mysteries of things around us. But we have a greater yearning to discover “the secrets” of life itself and how to live it well.
And yet, there remains a “secret” mystery in our midst that is “hidden” in plain sight. Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 2 as “God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” What is this “mystery”? Throughout the New Testament it is clearly described as the wisdom and plan of God revealed to us through his son Jesus. This “mystery” reveals:
- What is true godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).
- The revelation that God’s good news is for all people who accept it (Romans 11:25, Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:3-9).
- The understanding of God’s will (Ephesians 1:9).
- The secrets of the end times (1 Corinthians 15:51, Revelation 1:20, Revelation 17:5-9).
- The announcement of who wins at the end of time and where we will stand (Revelation 17:14).
- The “secret” of “Christ in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)
As we long to understand so many things, let’s focus on what has already been revealed: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived,” the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
God’s mystery isn’t revealed through eloquent and persuasive words or human reason. We’re not going to grasp the mysteries of God in our own understanding. Such search will yield nothing about the purpose of suffering or the keys to living well. God warns us that without the power of his Spirit, his mysteries remain hidden; they’re even considered foolishness to those who reject his leading. His mysteries are not revealed by becoming strong but in realizing our inherent weakness. In fact, the primary way we discover the mystery of God is when we come to the end of ourselves and our infatuation with other things. His mysteries are only revealed by the power of God who lives in us. Take heart! The Spirit of God knows “even the deep things of God.” He knows our thoughts and inner desires. And he knows the thoughts and plans of God for us. It’s futile to live the Christian life by trying to “become better.” What we need is to accept and rely on “the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us” (v 12).
Let’s freely accept what has been freely given!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.