… the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
Summary: There are different kinds of mysteries: Some are entertaining and some are troublesome. Real-life mysteries are meant to be solved. For the greatest mystery of all, Jesus is the answer.”.
Who doesn’t love a good mystery?
I mean a “GOOD” mystery! Some mysteries are not-so-good—like when I’m in a hurry and can’t find my car keys. (I don’t really enjoy the panic that ensues.) Another kind of mystery I don’t care for is when I do or say something that offends someone, but they don’t want to tell me what it is. I don’t like it when people are mad at me.
Then there are the mysteries that are so mysterious people don’t even know they exist. (In this case, the mystery is the mystery!) For example, consider Paul’s mystery.
Paul was a Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). He was steeped in the Old Testament traditions and Mosaic laws. As a Pharisee, Paul understood and accepted their views of God and the prophecies about the coming Messiah.
There was no mystery as far as Paul was concerned. He “knew” what the Messiah would be like when he finally came. There was no doubt in his mind about who the Messiah was or what he would do.
Even though Paul was very young when Jesus was crucified, he had no doubt that the stories about the man called Jesus were true. He was nothing but a troublemaker and a rabble-rouser who deserved to die.
And then a funny thing happened on the road to Damascus.
Jesus stopped Paul in his tracks and gave him an old-fashioned “talkin’ to.” Apparently, there were things that Paul didn’t understand. In a flash of brilliant, unbearable light, Paul’s confidence in what he thought he knew was shattered. Reality crashed down on him like you or I might squish a bug with our shoe.
Suddenly, all was made clear!
The “mystery” that Paul and others didn’t know existed was revealed. At the same moment, Jesus presented the solution to the mystery: himself.
In life, along with mundane mysteries like “Where did I put my keys?,” are more pressing mysteries. Many people wonder if this life is all there is. It feels like something is missing, but we just can’t put our finger on it. Often, we tell ourselves there is nothing we can do. We “decide” that there is no mystery because that is easier than accepting the truth.
Jesus is the truth. God is real. Life includes invisible things like love, hope, despair, and hurts. These invisible things point to an invisible part of us that was made by God and longs to be connected to our Creator. There really is no mystery; we need Jesus.
Application: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
Food for Thought: What keeps us from seeing the mystery and its solution?
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