Six Encouraging Truths About Bible Mysteries

The Bible is astounding.  It's a collection of 66 books, written over a period of 1500 years by 40

different authors in three different languages, yet it reveals one consistent God, communicating one central theme throughout: The Creator loves and redeems and wants to be known by the human beings He has made.

So why is the Bible sometimes hard to understand?  Why do there seem to be contradictory messages?  If God wants us to know Him, why does He shroud himself in mystery?

No one has definitive answers to these questions.  We can say it's impossible to understand an infinite God with our finite minds.  This is true, for sure.  We can also say that what look like contradictions to us may be compatible truths in the realm of the eternal.  And we must also recognize that the devastating separation that happened between us and our Creator in the Garden of Eden did more to keep us from understanding Him than anything He might have done. 

He has not shrouded Himself in mystery.  He is simply who He is.  He is a God whose nature is beyond our understanding.  What else would we expect the Creator of the universe to be?

So we need to be content with the limitations of His revelation, assuming that He has given us all we need to know to come into relationship with Him, and trusting Him with the mysteries we can't understand on this side of heaven. 

We need to accept, and be encouraged by, these six truths about the Bible:

 1.  The Bible is full of mysteries that none of us, neither scholar nor layperson, can explain or understand completely.  The Trinity, the Incarnation, the relationship between God's sovereignty and our free will--mysteries such as these will remain unexplainable to all of us at least until we get to heaven.

2.  The Bible does not even try to solve these mysteries for us.  God's Word simply tells us that certain things are true without explaining how they can be. We should carefully analyze the Word for what it says about the great mysteries of the faith and embrace those truths, without trying to make it say more than it does. We should not give in to the temptation to overanalyze just to make us feel more in control of our understanding of the Truth.

3.  In his inscrutable wisdom, God has chosen to involve human beings in the revelation and propagation of His Truth.  He inspired human writers to record His Truth in the Bible, and we believe the Holy Spirit guided their thoughts and their pens as they wrote.  Though we believe He watched over the selection of writings to be canonized, and guarded the meaning of the message as it was passed on in translation, there have been human errors, both in translation and interpretation of the message.  But we believe that somehow, miraculously, the Truth about God has been preserved even in that process.

4.  Because of these limitations to our human understanding, we should be gentle with fellow believers who hold to interpretations we don't agree with.  We can debate interpretations with others, but only within certain parameters.  Our arguments must be based on careful, prayerful, objective analysis of the biblical text, and we should always debate with humility and love.

5.  We need to actively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we read God's Word.

If we are humble and honest in our search for Him in His Word, every thought we have as we meditate can be covered by His grace and guided by His Spirit.

6.  God is sovereign.  His Truth will stand forever.  No amount of erroneous speculation on our part will destroy it, so we can relax a bit in that direction.  Yes, we must be careful.  We are called to "rightly divide the Word of Truth," but even when we are careful we will not be perfect in our understanding. 

One of the great and wonderful mysteries is that somehow, in his sovereignty, God works around and through our mistakes to reveal Himself accurately to us.

How awesome to realize that God wants to be known by us, and has made that possible through a Book infused with holy mysteries!

This post was first published June 18, 2014 in the Far East Broadcasting Company's blog under the title, "Six Truths Concerning the Bible's Mysteries."

Consider the Rooster

On a less serious note, I was going through my files this morning and found the following article in an old mimeographed publication called Evangel Trumpeter, published by Melvin Haug, the pastor of a small church in Hines Oregon some time in the early 1960's. 

Reproduced here for your admonition and enjoyment:

Consider the Rooster

The Lord used a rooster to convict Peter (Luke 22:60, 61).  The Master will use any Christian who will follow the rules adhered to by the rooster:

1.  He rises early and immediately begins his God-given task of crowing.

2.  The rooster does not refuse to crow because he can't sing like a canary.

3.  He energetically does that which is never praised.  Who ever heard, "Did you hear that rooster crow? Hasn't he a charming voice?"

4.  He awakens sleepers--unpopular but often necessary.

5.  He is the proclaimer of good news: the arrival of a new day with God-given privilege and opportunities.

6.  He is dependable.  He is persistent.  He is a first class advertiser, for he loudly heralds the good work done by his associates.

7.  He never complains about having to do the same common tasks, and he does not worry about compensation or receiving recognition.

Such homely lessons may not appeal to you, but if you are a true disciple--a learner--you will not despise the lesson because of its humble origin.  The Word of God has many lessons that are not set forth in great doctrinal sentences.  These [doctrinal sentences] are, of course, of primary importance, but where we have laid hold upon the great truths and have these truths lay hold upon us, there are, nevertheless, lessons that we can learn, even from God's roosters, unless we are either too big to learn or know it already.

Meeting God Under the Fig Tree

John 1:47-49

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Nathanael was obviously not in a good mood when his friend, Philip, came to tell him about Jesus.  He'd been sitting under a fig tree, probably talking with God, and there had probably been a lot of whining going on in the conversation. 

I can just hear him saying, "Why is the world in such a mess?  What happened to all your promises about coming to rescue us? It's been over 300 years since we Israelites have even heard from you.  Are you still there?  I know I shouldn't be complaining to you, of all people, but you know me.  I love the truth, and I have to be honest with you.  I just don't understand what you're up to."

"Nazareth!  Can anything good come from there?" said the grouchy Nathanael.

"Come and see," said Philip.

So he went.  Not expecting to meet someone who would pick up the conversation he'd just been having with God under the fig tree and finish it.

Yesterday morning I was alone in the house with nothing pressing to do, so I decided to indulge in my current favorite pastime, watching old West Wing episodes on Netflix.

But before I headed downstairs to the computer, Someone whispered in my ear, "Why would you spend your free time with West Wing when you could spend it with me instead?"

A good question, as His questions always are. 

It had been a while since I'd had (or taken time for) a leisurely visit with Jesus.  My quick-fix QT's had been keeping me going, but I was long overdue for the fireside-chat version of Time-with-God.  The kind Nathanael had under the fig tree.  So I sat down and started reading.  Nothing earth shattering happened.  In fact, I spent much of the time, as I read, worrying in God's ear. 

Lord, how can you fix us?

Our culture is so far removed from a godly mindset.

The West Wing worldview is so pervasive, and so persuasive. 

Does anyone even care about knowing you anymore? 

Are you able to do anything with us?

Are you still here, Lord?

Then the phone rang.  It was a friend I don't talk to often.  She was calling because she needed encouragement in her walk with the Lord.  She needed to hear someone else say that God was still here, and that He was at work in her life.  She called because she cared about knowing God.  Deeply.  And God was doing something wonderful in her heart.

We encouraged each other, realizing that it was actually God who was encouraging us both.  

God saw us under our fig trees. 

He heard our concerns. 

He reassured us both through our shared testimonies about His faithful love.

But he couldn't have done it with me if I'd been watching West Wing when my friend called.  If I hadn't been under that fig tree, I would have missed the blessing of his reassurance.  I would have missed the great encouragement of knowing that he sees me, he knows me, and he cares. 

My brother-in-law challenged me today about my priorities in a post on Facebook.  He shared a thought from C.S. Lewis, who points out that we won't come to God if we think we can find satisfaction anywhere else.  God is always our last resort.  After West Wing. 

I'm thankful for a God who cares.  A God who whispers in my ear when I'm going to the wrong source for refreshment and comfort.  A God who then stoops to sit with me under my fig tree. A God who finishes our conversations.

Trust and Despair

This morning I talked to God about the state of our union, his and mine.  My faith in him is constant, but my feelings are so erratic.  Often, these days, I suffer from vague feelings of guilt, confusion and despair, even though I know, deep in my soul, that all is well with Him. 

Why is that?

I'm not sure.  But I'm holding on to the verses I feel he's drawn my attention to during this strange time of ambivalence. 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him (as Lord!) and he will direct your paths.

So after I talked to God, he spoke to me, in two very specific ways: 

My morning's reading in the Daily Light was about Jesus suffering in the garden.  He trusted his Father completely, yet, in the garden, as he was awaiting the arrival of the soldiers who would take him to his death, he told his disciples, "My soul is deeply grieved." 

He cried out for mercy from God.  "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." 

God didn't grant his request.  He sent an angel to strengthen the Son he loved more than life, and then he let the soldiers come.

I left my quiet time and came to the computer, where I found this blog from Open Doors, an organization that ministers to people who suffer persecution for their faith in Christ.  This is a quote from a Chinese man who was imprisoned for his faith.  It helped shed some light on the predicament--this strange dichotomy between trust and despair.

He says:

    When we suffer for Christ, what actually happens? I mean, what really goes on spiritually within us when we are going through suffering? 

     I ask the question because a young sister was listening to me recently recount my experience of being in jail for three weeks last year. She said, “You talked of having constant diarrhea, of being kicked and punched painfully, and you even feared that God was punishing you…yet you talked also of feeling joy and experiencing peace.” She said to me, “I don’t understand how these things go together.” 

     My reply to her, and I give it also as an instruction to you all (for you will all suffer at some point for His Name), is that when we suffer, three spiritual experiences happen to us all at once: angelic strengthening, superhuman forgiveness, and human incomprehension. These three things appear contradictory, but if you suffer, you will find they come together as they did in the life of Christ. 

    An old Christian used to say to me, “When they lead you away to jail, tell yourself you are merely going with Christ to the Garden of Gethsemane, and to the Cross.” To the Garden, and to the Cross. I liked that. I tested it. It’s true…

"Angelic strengthening, superhuman forgiveness, and human incomprehension."  I'm not suffering as this dear brother suffered, but his description of the feelings he experienced help me understand that joy and human incomprehension can co-exist.

My feelings will still come and go, but I'm honing in on the key purpose--our purpose in our walk with him.  It's just to trust.  To grow in our trust.  He doesn't ask us to understand.  He doesn't ask us to know the right path to take.  All we have to do is trust and he will arrange the rest.

A Writerly Predicament

So this is my predicament:  I feel I'm supposed to be writing.  Writing lots.  But I hate writing.

My solution:  Procrastination by way of reading.

Reading seems to be the only escape from the arduous task of writing that my conscience will allow me.  Reading is, after all, research for writing, right?  Reading is the other side of the writing coin, and all writers should also be readers.

That's my justification, but I'm looking nervously over my shoulder as I bury my nose in my books.

I feel I'm at a crossroads in my life's journey.  Or maybe taking a short detour, off the beaten path, that's bound to lead, eventually, back to the main highway.  I'm pretty sure the detour is part of the "rest" God has called me to right now, but I suspect it won't be long before I am catapulted back into the writer's world again. 

I have no idea what that catapult will look like, or when it will sneak up behind me, but in the mean time I intend to make the most of my sojourn in the reader's world.

Also in the mean time, to assuage those little pangs of guilt and anxiety I get when I leave the writing behind for very long, I will occasionally post a blog.  This one is about, of course, reading.

My taste in books is eclectic.  If you'd like to take a peek into my reading world, I invite you to check out my Amazon reviews.  Some of the books I enjoy are deeper than others, but all my choices are uplifting.  Whether they deal with spiritual issues directly or not, every book I've reviewed will leave you with a sense of hope.

I plan to add to this list of reviews as I read, as a way to further justify my reading and keep my writing skills exercised.  I'll keep you posted as new reviews come up.  Meanwhile, if any of these reviews prompt you to join me on the reading journey, I will feel affirmed.  I will feel like I am, in Mr. Topham's words, "a very useful engine."*

Here's the link to my current Amazon reviews.  I highly recommend all these books to any of my reading friends.   

And here's a link to the last post on my writing blog, which is, predictably, also about reading and Amazon reviews.

Please comment here, or connect with me in other ways, if you read any of these books and enjoy them.  It's a tad lonesome on this side road, and I'd love to have a comment or a conversation about your own reading journey now and then.
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*  If you have kids or grandkids you will understand this reference.  If you aren't you'll have to Google it.