A mystery revealed

The mystery of the heavens is revealed in God’s word. Throughout history there have been many who have longed to understand the meaning of life. Others having determined that there must be a divine or supernatural purpose behind all of existence have sort to look into the mystery of the heavens. However only though God’s word (the Bible) can we truly know the truth. After all Jesus declared “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8v32). Paul also instructs us about the ‘great mystery’ concerning Christ and the church’ (Ephesians 5v32). The Apostle Peter tells us that ‘even the angels desire to look into’ the matter concerning God’s great salvation through Jesus Christ (1Peter 1v12). When Jesus was teaching His disciples again we read “to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables..” (Luke 8v10). This is one of the main reasons why the religious leaders did not recognise Jesus when He was on this earth, because although they knew so much, they had not understood the message of God’s salvation. We then must count it both a privilege and a blessing to have both heard and understood this tremendous message of revelation, that God has sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world so that through Him the world might be saved. There is so much more as we read, there is a glimpse into the realms of heaven themselves, an understanding of God’s love and benevolence, even the promise of supernatural empowerment by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Yes we read about so much more but make no mistake, let’s not get distracted by thrones and angelic beings but let us understand at the very heart of everything God has placed His Son, Jesus Christ, the ‘Lamb upon the throne’. This then is the greatest revelation from heaven that God has given us His Son and that He, Jesus Christ, is exalted far above all principalities and power ‘having been given a name that is above every other name’ (Philippians 2v9). We see that the whole focus of heaven is in serving the will of God and worshiping Him. This is the mystery, that God might permit us, mere men, access to Him and that access is only when we come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. If we can’t see this or understand it then how can we possibly understand the mystery of heaven. Even this then is a gift from God that through the Holy Spirit and through His word we might find this revelation, this knowledge, this eternal truth. There is a God in heaven and if we seek Him then we will find Him, but we must seek Him with all our heart. For those of us who have entered into this wonderful knowledge and salvation through Jesus Christ, let us count it an honour not only to have received but also to be able to participate in such a wonderful salvation.

A Grace Word

God’s word to us is a message of mercy and forgiveness. Mercy because we are unable to help ourselves in terms of righteousness and God’s forgiveness. Mercy because God is gracious, loving patient and kind. Grace is unmerited favour, and if there is one thing mankind is in need of more than any other it is God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is a challenge for many to come to a place where they realise how much they need God’s forgiveness because “there is none of us who is righteous before Him no not one” (Romans 3v10). Mercy because we deserve nothing but God’s rebuke and yet out of the amazing love He has for us we receive forgiveness instead of wrath. The word forgiveness is all through the Bible, as we read we see how God forgave those who came to Him in repentance. It is the message that Jesus Christ declares to us through His death and resurrection, that God is ready to forgive anyone who will humble themselves and come to Him. In fact we can see the name Jesus as the declaration of God’s forgiveness. It is just one aspect of the amazing grace that we find when we encounter God, after all it is written through His great mercy we are not consumed, because His compassion doesn’t fail. (Lamentations 3v22). Even when we accept Christ as our saviour, when we turn to follow Him we might consider that God has done far more than we deserve and that it is enough to be forgiven. However no sooner do we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ than we come to realize that there is so much more to God’s mercy and grace than forgiveness alone. God bestows upon us His abundant blessing, provides for all our needs, heals our diseases, cleanses us and bestows upon us authority as His Heavenly children. It can be challenging to grasp just how much God has done for us and how much He continues to do for us. We don’t deserve it, not any of it, not a single thing, but God delights to crown us with lovingkindness. We can live for so many years and walk with Jesus all the way, we can become as familiar friends but there will always be some new revelation of God’s mercy and grace for us to encounter. Why? Because our infinite eternal Heavenly Father is as infinite in His grace and mercy as He is eternal in His longevity. God’s love knows no limits and so favour and blessing are the language of God towards His children. “For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes and in Him Amen (let it be so), to the glory of God through us” (II Corinthians 1v20). We have no need to beg nor argue our cause, Christ has already paid the price and we are promised that with Him He will give us all things (Romans 8v32). Let’s learn to appreciate the God who’s word to us is mercy and forgiveness, limitless grace.

The Prophetic Word

God’s word is rich with prophetic revelation, declarations of things that will come to pass at a time after they were spoken. Have you ever stopped to consider that God exists, past, present and future, they are alike to Him. God is timeless and so when He speaks there is both relevance for the present and prophetic revelation of what is to come. We must be careful not to read the old testament prophesies as mere words because as we read we also see in a historic sense those words taking place. If you imagine for a moment what it was like for the children of Israel when they entered the promised land, or when the exiles returned from captivity in Babylon, how they must have felt living and experiencing God’s promises first hand. There is a lot of prophetic scripture that has already been fulfilled, especially in relation to God’s salvation and His Messiah (Jesus Christ) who He promised to send. We might consider how the prophet declared ‘in the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh’ and compare it with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. We have such a tremendous witness in the fulfilled prophetic words that we can have absolute confidence in the words that have yet to take place. Jesus said, I will come again, a tremendous word of promise! In many places we read not only of the suffering servant (we see this as Jesus in His life, death and resurrection) but also we read of the conquering King coming in His glory (a promise we have yet to see). We can find so much encouragement in the prophetic nature of scripture because even the simplest of statements can be loaded with so much intention. Jesus for example declaring I will build My church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it, a declaration a promise and a prediction (prophetic). It may seem easy to look back at historic events and align them with the prophetic words that were given before they took place but for those living in a period before a prophecy came to pass the imagery and specific detail at times can be hard to discern or understand. This is why the religious leaders in Jesus’ day completely missed so much of God’s prophetic promise being fulfilled by His being there with them. The same can be said of prophetic words concerning the end of days. Revelation and other verses can be challenging to fully interpret, over the years there have been many and varied teachings on the subject. One thing is for sure, God’s word will come to pass, His prophetic revelation will be fulfilled and those who look back on it will be able to understand how the details of His word applied to the events of which they speak. I love the fact that God’s word, this prophetic word is alive and we are living it out in our days just as much as our forebears did in the Old Testament.