Have you ever wondered why the Bible is so unique a book? Or what makes the Bible totally different from all other books ever written. Clearly while men penned the words of Scripture they were moved by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So, while men wrote the words, the real author of Scripture is the Holy Spirit. I like how apologist Winkie Pratney put it: “No other work of man in any language even faintly resembles the intricate structure and design of the Bible. The fact remains – only an infinite mind could have devised this Book of books.”1
So, in essence we are using our finite minds to try to comprehend the wisdom of an infinite mind. Thankfully, God allows us to get a glimpse of some of His infinite pearls of wisdom as well as His many awesome attributes such as His mercy, love, and holiness. The problem with many of us is that we so often are not satisfied with the fact that many mysteries remain in the Bible, that I believe we are not meant to unravel because quite frankly we don’t have the capacity to do so. In other words, as finite human beings we will never be able to understand everything about our infinite God.
I have learned in my walk with the Lord that God doesn’t want to be analyzed to death but wants to be loved and trusted. It is kind of like asking a six-month old baby to read and understand the Wall Street Journal. He or she doesn’t have the capacity to do so. And when it comes to fully understanding our infinite God we, as His children, don’t have the capacity to understand many of the deep things of the Lord. For example, how can Jesus be 100% man and 100% God. Or how can God be sovereign in our salvation and yet we are personally responsible? I am content to leave these mysteries in the hand of the Lord. If my finite mind can’t understand them I know that my wonderful infinite God does; and that is enough for me.
And isn’t this what we want from our children, especially when they are very young. We know they won’t understand much of why we often say no to their requests, but we pray if we have built up a love relationship with them they will learn to just trust us and know in some small way that our no is actually a good thing because they realize that they are loved and that everything we do for them flows from that love. And that my friends is the same way we need to view our Father God.
I do believe that the more we study the Bible the clearer many things will become, but there will always be mysteries that we just need to leave their resolution in the hands of God. But it is also important for us to realize that sometimes the deeper things of the Lord remain mysteries because we are not willing to pay the price of turning everything in our lives over to the Lord. The more we show God our love and commitment to Him, I personally believe, He will be more prone to share more of His hidden ways. Again, Winkie Pratney gives us insight here when he states: “No matter how high the powers of reason, no matter how deep the intellect, no one can discover God’s secret messages without paying the cost of true discipleship.”2
In the final analysis (Isaiah 55:8-9) shares with us what happens when finite meets infinite: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God will never reveal all of His secrets things to us. First, because He is infinite and we as finite will never be able to fathom all that infinite involves. Second, because we often aren’t willing to pay the cost of following after Jesus – thus we miss out on His will and ways for us. And third, the secret things of the Lord are just way above my pay grade!