What's All the Mystery About?

So many of us really want to know God on a more personal level. Yet, it can feel like “He’s just not that into you”. Thankfully, the Bible exhorts us to let the Spirit [of God] be our guide, not our emotions. Our emotions don’t always tell us the Truth. And, the Truth is, God really wants you to know Him deeper. In fact, He knows you very intimately. The Word tells us that He is “acquainted with all my ways”.

Well, knowing that God is so endeared to me only wants me to know Him more. Yet, it can feel (there’s that word again) intimidating. After all, He’s GOD. Isn’t He too busy for me? Isn’t He off saving mankind and all? Well, actually, God is not too busy for you. He’s waiting for you to seek Him. Wise men (and women) still seek Him. The Bible tells us if we seek for Him with our whole heart, He will be found. So, what holds us back? A lack of knowledge, fear, busyness, distraction, the cares of this life, sin…

I think, honestly, if you are one of the people curious enough to be reading this, then you are already one with a seeking heart for more of God. So, that tells me that you are willing to set aside your busyness to pursue some clarity.

I think, for most of us, we have been brainwashed by this statement: “God works in mysterious ways”. Yet, that is simply not true. It only feels true because we have a lack of knowledge about God and Who He really is. God is very plain in how He works, what He thinks and His divine plan for your life. Didn’t He take the time to ensure it all got written down for you? The Bible is one big love letter/life manual assembled just for you.

One of God’s biggest desires is that He be made known among us. The Bible tells us that, not only has God already revealed to us the mystery of His will through Jesus, but that it gave Him pleasure to do so...

Ephesians 1:3,7-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself…

Jesus Himself confirmed this in the following scripture:

Matthew 13:34-35

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Here are a few other scriptures:

Daniel 2:20,22

…20 "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2:28

28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets…

Matthew 10:26

Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Mark 4:22-23

22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

1 Corinthians 2:9

9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit…

2 Timothy 1:8-14

8…God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which…10 has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

You see, God wants you to know Him. He wants to tell you His secrets. When talking about the scripture “He who abides in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”, my pastor would say that the secret place is where God tells you His secrets and you tell Him yours. I like that. God is ALL about communication!

How do we get to know God more? Pray. That, too, can feel awkward, intimidating, frightening, etc. depending on our personal view of God and how we were raised to look at Him. But, prayer is soooo easy. You don’t have to repeat something someone else wrote; just speak from your heart. God isn’t interested in whether you can talk in King James English or recite the Lord’s Prayer…He is only interested in what’s on your heart, what challenges you are facing and what needs you have. Prayer should be like talking to your best friend.

Now, I realize for some of us that seems really odd…God, my best friend? Yup! Once we have delved into the Bible more, you will begin to see just how much God desires your fellowship. In the following portions of Ephesians, you can see the incredible goodness of God toward you…

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Would God have gone to so much trouble if He weren’t desiring a personal relationship with you? Would He have been so generous and so loving if He wanted to hide behind mysteries and confusion? Granted, there will be some things God will reveal later, when we are once again united with Him in Christ’s return. But, for the most part, we can know God’s will for us now, here on earth. We can know God’s character, His love, His ways and His heart. Today, He is calling out to you. Will you let Him in and discover the joy and peace that come from personally knowing your Creator? He’s waiting with arms outstretched to receive you and to share His heart with you. All you have to do is say, “Lord, I want more. I want You to reveal Yourself to me in a deeper way. I know of You and now I want to know You personally. Forgive me of my sins and anything that stands in between us – I confess it as unholy before You and thank you for your grace and mercy. Amen”.

Lastly, in order to have that personal relationship with God, you need to know that you have received Christ. If you go to church every week, that’s great! Fellowship with other believers is a part of our sense of community and family that God wants for us. But, it doesn’t mean we’ve done all that is needed. Jesus said, “If you confess Me before men, I will confess you before My Father”.

Take a moment now and ensure your relationship with Him. Simply say, “Jesus, I receive You as my Lord and as my Savior. All that is within me that is displeasing to You, I lay at Your feet and renounce. I thank You for Your sacrifice that made a way for me to be reconciled to the Father and I receive You now.”

Now, it doesn’t have to be in those exact words. Again, God looks at your heart, not your words. So, just be real with God! We don’t have to stand on ceremony or be pretentious. Just be real.

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