By definition the God of the universe must be somewhat mysterious. Let me explain. Since our great Creator has no beginning or end, is only possible to know if He reveals Himself to us, (and thankfully He does through His Word and nature) and is infinite in His being we as finite humans must be content that there will be much about God that remains a mystery.
The late theologian J. I. Packer made the following astute observation: “A God whom we could understand exhaustively, and whose revelation of Himself confronted us with no mysteries whatsoever, would be a God in man’s image, and therefore an imaginary God, not the God of the Bible at all.”1
However, just because we can’t fully comprehend all the mysteries of our universe doesn’t mean that our Christian faith must be called into question. In fact, our faith in the Lord is enhanced when we realize that even though we don’t totally understand the intricate pattern of the stars above, we know the one who does. And just as God directs and guides the orbits of the stars, He is charting a safe course for us.
As science marches forward we slowly are unraveling more of the mysteries of our planet and beyond. However, there are many things we will never be able to fully comprehend because our finite minds are not designed to understand infinite concepts. For example, how can God exist before time began or how can God exist as three separate entities yet each one being fully God.
I have learned in my walk with the Lord that rather than try to fully figure God out, I am content to praise Him for all of the wonderful things He has chosen to reveal to me through the Scriptures. Thankfully He has shown me where I came from, where I am going when I die, and what my purpose in life is. He has also shown me His great power and wisdom through the amazing beauty and orderliness of the universe He created.
Not only that, His Word tells us there will always be mysteries we will never be able to fathom, for we read: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29). As a result, I am content to live with these secret things because I know that they are not meant for me to know now; but perhaps they will be revealed to me in heaven. I take the stand that the great Albert Einstein lived with when he stated: “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”2
Sadly, there are many people who want to know everything about God and our universe and forget that not only is this impossible but what God really wants is to be loved and trusted, and not analyzed to death. So often we get disappointed with God since we can’t understand why he allows so much suffering in our world, why the guilty seem to get away with things, and why sometimes when we really need God to answer He remains silent.
First, His ways are higher than our ways and while God promises us peace and joy, He doesn’t promise us a suffer-free life. Second, our sense of fairness doesn’t mean that in the economy of God we are correct. God’s sense of fairness has an eternal element in it where our idea of fairness is often just in the here and now. And third, when God seems silent it doesn’t mean He is absent. Instead, silence allows us time to meditate on God’s Word and trust God that in the long run He will work our suffering for a future good; if we only give God the time He needs to work things out according to His divine plan.
So where does this leave us? Well for me I am just so grateful to Jesus for choosing to reveal Himself, the mystery of the ages, to me and saving my soul! Now I concentrate on praising what a wonderful God we serve and studying His precious Word, to not learn about solving mysteries, but about just how much love Jesus has for me!
1 200 QUOTES BY J. I. PACKER [PAGE – 2] | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
2 Albert Einstein – The most incomprehensible thing about… (brainyquote.com)
Ahmen, and Ahmen!
Elaine