Never ending mystery…

I’m currently attending a college/career class at my church, and we have been studying Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project. It has been a really challenging series that I have really enjoyed so far, and if you are looking for something to expand your thinking and perspective on God, I would recommend watching this series.

After each episode, we participate in some follow-up/review questions as a group. Last night, there was a question that said something along the lines of, “should we accept and embrace the mystery of God, or attempt to simplify Christianity in a simple statement?” I’m sure I totally butchered that question, but that was the idea of what it was saying, at least. I think the easy answer here, if we really don’t want to put in the effort, would be to attempt to sum up God, Christianity, all that goes with it, into a simple statement. But what are the benefits of embracing the reality that God is a mystery? How is that fun and not just frustrating? If you’re into mysteries and solving puzzles, then this could be of some interest…yet, if God is so incredible and magnificent that He ultimately can’t completely be figured out, then what’s the point? If you can’t solve the mystery and find the answer, why look for the answer?

I believe that the answer to these questions is: levels. No, we’re never going to totally figure out God until we get to heaven, and we may not fully understand God even then. But God is a God of purpose and order and I believe that He’s left clues of Himself along the way for us, creating this beautiful scavenger hunt we can choose to participate in our whole lives. I think, God portrays Himself as a mystery to us on purpose. Yes, the answer may be that we simply cannot handle to know 100% who He is; as humans, this may be too overwhelming for us. Yet, I also believe that God wants to go on this incredible adventure with us, holding our hand along the way, as we explore His nature and uncover new things about Him at different levels, constantly. So why embrace the reality that He is ultimately a mystery? Because He designed it that way so that we have somewhere to go from. If we sum Him up in one statement, then that moment is over, we can move on, and have nowhere else to go. But if God is a mystery, one that we can keep discovering new things about, then the possibilities are endless and the adventure continues.

When you were younger, did you even go to a birthday party with a scavenger hunt? When I was little, my parties were the ones that had fun games like scavenger hunts, because I was blessed with a mom that goes over the top for birthday parties. I remember one year we had a list of things we were supposed to find in the mall, and whoever finished their list first won a prize. The Bible talks about keeping the awe and simplicity in our faith, like a child has:
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to  such              as these.’” –Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

So even though not being able to figure out the answers is something that drives me crazy, I’m grateful that God took the time to write out His Word and reveal Himself to me, in a way that gives me somewhere to go from here, a place to continue to grow in.

“‘But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.’” Daniel 2: 28a (NIV)

Reputation trumps revelation?

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’
…[Jesus] ‘You should not be surprised at my saying ‘You must be born again.’ 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 in the Spirit.’
‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked.” –John 3:1-3, 7-8 (NIV)

 

I don’t think Nicodemus was coming at Jesus in a confrontational way, otherwise he would have done it in the day time, with other people around, like the other Pharisees would have. I think he came to Jesus with genuine interest, curiosity, humbleness, and maybe even yearning. It seems like he was dealing with some kind of conflict inside. He was a Pharisee, he was a politically important figure, and yet, he was trying to figure out who this Jesus guy truly was. Nicodemus seems to be questioning all the information that had been drilled into him; we can see this when he asks, “How can this be?” The Pharisees were very well-educated; they knew their facts. But Nicodemus was searching for something more… he lacked that relationship fulfillment in his heart. Unfortunately, his authoritative position was a little too high of a priority in his life. He could have come to Jesus with his questions in front of other people, but that would have risked his reputation. He could have given up his booksmarts, his professional career, his esteemed role in society, his respect by important leaders, and followed Jesus. But he sought Jesus out at night, when no one else was around who could judge or criticize him. His concern for his reputation prevented him from further and impacting revelation.