Nov. 1 Great Mysteries

November 1 - Great Mysteries that Test the Faith of Man

Thompson in his Chain Bible, highlighted several mysteries that seem to be difficult for us to accept.

Jeremiah 12:1, "You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?"

I'm pretty sure I just wrote about this last month with one of the Psalms. My goodness but it makes no sense to us when God seems to allow the wicked to live lives of leisure on this earth. Mom always told me that it was because they would live in hell for the rest of eternity. I know she was trying to comfort me. Sometimes it just didn't work!

John 3:8. "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Jesus used the wind as an analogy to the Holy Spirit. Man can not control it. Man can't manage the Spirit, man can't influence the Spirit. This didn't make sense to Nicodemus (whom Jesus was speaking with about being born again). He could not comprehend the fact that he was unable to influence his way into heaven. The Jews had spent centuries refining their laws so that people would live correctly and attain eternal life. Jesus said that man didn't have that power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit. What a different set of ideas He was placing into their minds!

Romans 11:33. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out."

Paul has just finished telling the Romans that all of Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25-32) The fact that God is big enough, powerful enough, has enough forgiveness and love and will do anything to bring all of the earth into His Kingdom is difficult for most to believe and accept. There are deep theological discussions about this all the time. But, Paul is willing to believe the prophets in the Old Testament and knows that God will not refuse access to heaven to His Chosen People. There are depths that we will never be able to plumb with regards to the wisdom and knowledge of God. Who are we to question Him or His actions in this world!

I think that one of the greatest things God could have done for us is to give us mysteries which are revealed as we probe the depths of the universe. We have curious minds. Those minds are given to us by our Creator. God also presented great mysteries within His Word. I can't wait to see what they reveal about Him, about us, about His creation!