It's A Mystery

I like mysteries. When I was a child we used to go on a lot of 'mystery tours'. We'd get up early, get a bus into town and wait excitedly for the coach. We'd have a list of all the places we'd like to go; zoo, seaside, funfair.... eventually the coach would arrive and we'd pile on to set off on the adventure. Eagerly we'd look at the road signs trying to predict the route and ultimately the destination. We needn't have bothered. It was always Barnard Castle. Turns out the mystery wasn't a mystery at all.

According to that famous religious figure (Madonna) 'Life is a Mystery' and 'Shakespeare In Love' had it as a theme - click for a  brief clip.   What's more, I hear lots of people use 'mystery' when they are talking about God. Now I agree that there is a lot about God that we are not designed to understand. How exactly can He be three and yet one? Physically, how did He create the universe? Practically, how can He give His full attention to every individual? With regards the attributes of God (the 'omni' things) we are not equipped nor intended to know how God does what He does - it is and will remain a mystery, hidden. But what about aspects regarding His character? His love and the way that allows choice. His justice and the way He exercises mercy, the way in which He exercises sovereignty without manipulating or controlling, how prayer works, how God redeems....

My worry is that we too casually use 'mystery' as an excuse for holding mutually exclusive ideas about God that leads to either confusion for ourselves or a lack of credibility for those we are trying to reach. So whilst there are clearly areas that are hidden, that are mysteries surrounding God's nature that are far beyond us, the history of God is one of revelation. He creates the universe through the metaphor of speech, the first thing He creates is that which dispels hiddeness - light. Almost every use of the word 'mystery' in scripture relates to something that was hidden has now been revealed:

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel; "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries"; I want you to understand this mystery; Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages; Behold! I tell you a mystery; making known to us the mystery of his will; how the mystery was made known to me by revelation; When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ; to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery; the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

So in these next few blogs, I want to explore some classic areas that are often seen as 'mysteries' but which I believe God has revealed.

There is of course one outstanding mystery that is forever beyond our understanding. Where do the missing socks go?