In a fog about God?

Yesterday I mentioned reading an article entitled, “The silliest story ever told” that ridiculed the biblical story of Jesus Christ. This morning I read a response to comment on a video about exercise. The first comment said that God lead him to that channel and wanted to bless the person who had done the video. The reply to that comment said that he needed to have his mental health examined if he thought God led him to this video.

Both items made me feel sad, a bit annoyed, and somewhat apologetic. I wanted to take the people by the shoulders who dismissed the Lord and say, “You just don't understand.” But I know that it's God who creates understanding. I cannot talk anyone into it.

I also realize that much of the story of Jesus Christ does sound silly to the rational human mind. This morning, I tried to see some of that in the events common to each of the first three gospel accounts in the New Testament.

The first one sounds okay; John the Baptist announces that the Messiah is coming. But if that event is connected with Old Testament prophecy as the Gospel writers affirm, then it becomes suspect. The rational thinker assumes that no one knows the future not even the people of God 600 years ago. So to them, that part of the story is silly.

The second is the baptism of the Savior. A rational human mind would ask what significance is there in being dunked in water? Even if they understand that this is a symbolism, it makes no sense. Some sort of false teaching might say that baptism washes away sin but that makes no sense either. Those NT writers say that Jesus didn't sin so why did He have to be baptized? To them, this is also silly.

Third, all three of the gospels describe the temptation of Jesus Christ. If He is God what is the point? It makes more sense to say He is a man and is tempted like everyone else. Jesus responded to temptation with Scripture. It may make sense to use Bible verses to give a person a way of thinking to keep them from ‘error’ but only if that is what a person wants to believe. But to a rational thinker repeating verse of Scripture does not give anyone in any special power — no more than saying abracadabra does. So that one is silly too

Teachings and the miracles of Jesus are also irrational to the average human mind. They make no sense. Raising up a man who has been in a grave for 3 days? Really? What sense can a reasonable person make of that? Most will conclude somebody made it up.

I recently read an entire book that gives reasons that belief in Christ makes no sense. However it was written by a Christian theologian whose bottom line is valid. He concludes that unless God opens our hearts and gives us the gift of faith, none of it makes sense. it is silly.

Yet because God does open hearts and minds and grants faith to people, millions of people realize that all the sayings, the stories, drama, the teachings, the miracles, everything in the Scripture is true. It happened. Jesus did say those things. Jesus did do those things. We say we know this is true by faith, but faith is actually a gift to understand and verify the revelation God gives.

I imagine looking off to the horizon but there's a fog and nothing can be seen. Then the fog is lifted and reveals a string of mountains. They are blurry. Are they real? Then I am handed binoculars and with them the mountains can be clearly seen. I have no doubt they are actually there, not a mirage or a figment of my imagination or an illusion.

It is the same with knowing God. I could not see Him until He lifted the fog and handed me the binoculars. The words and events in the story were a blur and made no sense until God granted the ability to see what He is doing and has done, and with such clarity that I realize it is totally true.

I cannot make that happen. No one else can make that happen. We can seek the mountains. We can see something through the fog. But until He hands us the binoculars, we cannot make sense of it. The only thing we can do is keep looking. God promises that if we search for Him, we will find Him.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

And if the fog is still there, then He will grant faith. It is given and we can narrow our search enabling us to be recipients of that gift.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I read the Bible for many years without any understanding of what I was reading. I didn’t think it was silly, but it certainly was covered in fog. Why did it take so long for revelation and faith to come? Perhaps the most obvious reason is that pride in my IQ created the fog. Now, as I think on these things, I am greatly aware that my salvation, even my very life, totally depends on You.

The fullness of wisdom

Those who sell products through a business in their home are positive that that Amway, Avon, certain vitamins, or whatever they are selling is the best there is, otherwise they would not be selling it. They have used the product and are convinced of its value and quality, or at least that they can make a living convincing others.

Those called by God to follow Jesus Christ are also convinced that Christ is the best there is, not because of personal benefits in the relationship (even though that is a factor), but because God has revealed something to them that others do not see. This man is not a mere man, but is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3)

To the world, Jesus Christ appears as a teacher or a prophet, even a myth. Some think He was a mad man, or a liar, but the people who are in a personal relationship with Him by faith know better.

But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)

Horatius Bonar says that the expression, “the wisdom of God,” does not mean that Christ is wise but something more comprehensive. Yes, He is infinitely wise, but to say He is the wisdom of God goes beyond that. The Father is infinitely wise, but we cannot say He is the wisdom of God. This description belongs only to the Son because all that is in God and that can come forth from God is contained in Christ.

Jesus is the full representative of the invisible and incomprehensible Almighty God. He is the brightness of Jehovah’s glory and the express image of His person. In all He does, God displays portions of His wisdom, but in Christ He puts forth all of it. That is, the wisdom of God is totally expressed in His Son.

Why is that said in the Bible? It seems to me that God’s wisdom is seen in how spiders spin a web or in the way stars move in the heavens. I see His wisdom displayed in the way He uses all things, even bad things, for good in the lives of His people, or how He humbles hard hearts and brings even the worst of sinners to the cross.

But the Bible says clearly that Christ is the wisdom of God. All that God is can be seen in this One who consented to become a man, a servant of God to do His Father’s will.

Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6–8)

This is God’s wisdom. He became a man and died for sinners. If I want to be wise, I must know this One who did this for me, but also, as Philippians 2:5 says, have His mind in me and be willing to let God, in His wisdom, direct me in an obedient life of serving others.

A new mind . . .

Sometimes Christians speak of heaven in terms of what a verse in 1 Corinthians 2 says. It goes like this, “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.”

Today I read that verse again and realized that even though the principle is true (we can’t know what heaven is like while we are still here), in context this verse is not talking about heaven at all. Instead, it’s about the inability of natural humans to grasp the wisdom of God. Here are verses 7-10 which put light into this “eye has not seen” concept.

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 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.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

God hides His wisdom from sinful man, yet it is knowable. In the Bible, the word mystery is always about a secret that has been revealed, and in this case, the mystery is the glory of sending Christ to die for our sins.

These verses say that if those who crucified Christ had known what His death would accomplish—atonement, redemption, forgiveness for sinners—they would not have killed Him. While that might seem like a good thing, it would have run contrary to the plan of God, a plan that He ordained in ages past. Sinful men, including those who crucified Jesus, always want to run contrary to the plan of God.

This passage also says that ordinary people do not have a clue about what God can do for them. They cannot see it neither is it something that is in their heart. While some figure that human beings “made up” the gospel, these words say this is impossible. We don’t have the capacity for it; the entire idea of God sending His Son to die for us is beyond our sensibilities. We can’t see it, hear it, or imagine it. Only God can reveal it to us, and this Scripture says that this is what He does. In fact, verses 14-16 describe our problem of “no eye can see” and His solution.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

When a person is given new life in Christ, we actually have Him too, His life and His mind. The Bible says it in many ways, but no matter the terminology used, a saved sinner is transformed because Jesus comes to live in his or her heart. When that happens, Jesus brings His mind with Him, and it is by His mind that we know those wonders that are otherwise hidden.

The new mind, the mind of Christ, is supposed to be fed and nurtured. Romans 12:2 says that I am “not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind, that (I) may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I do this by reading God’s words, thinking God’s thoughts, and doing God’s will. As I cooperate with Him, His mind begins to do the thinking for me. This is what Romans 12:2 means by renewing it, allowing it to be transformed.

In contrast, if I fill my mind with junk from books, television, and the neighborhood gossip, and if I never read my Bible or do what it says, I will have trouble understanding the will of God and will not like it if I do. I might have the mind of Christ, but I cannot push it in a closet and never use it.

Having His mind is an awesome thing that I never could have invented. It is one of those “eyes have not seen” realities that did not enter my head at all, not until Jesus came into my heart and began revealing to me His mysteries. This is simply and utterly astounding!

Yet there is conflict too, like the times my mind wants to do one thing and His, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is telling me to do something quite different. I can renew this mind of Christ by reading the Word of God, but reading is useless unless I obey what I read.

Note: This gives me much to think about (and do) in what will be a busy day. We are in Victoria, BC and as soon as I finished writing this, the Tall Ships came into the harbor just a few blocks from our Bed & Breakfast. I couldn’t post it until bedtime. We had a great day, walked for miles, and met some nice people. The ships are wonderful.