Mystery Solved- All Treats and No Tricks
Who Doesn’t Love a Good Mystery?
Most of us love a good mystery—from reading Agatha Christie and other great mystery writers to getting hooked on a TV mystery series. We love trying to follow the clues, guess whodunit, and be jolted by the surprise ending that no one expected.
You might be surprised that the word mystery is mentioned twenty-eight times in the New Testament. Does this mean that God is keeping secrets from us or waiting to spring a surprise ending that will shock us? Absolutely not! In fact, just the opposite. And that’s the good news.
Mystery Revealed
The Greek word translated mystery in the Bible is “mysterion.” It does not mean something obscure or incomprehensible. Instead, it means a truth that has always existed and is now being revealed. Biblical mysteries are truths that were once beyond human understanding but are now being revealed by God through the Holy Spirit.
In Ephesians 3, Paul says God appointed him to understand and share a mystery with others. This mystery is that Gentiles have been grafted into Israel's spiritual promises because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Gentiles and believing Jews are members of one body—the Church.
As he discusses this mystery, Paul shows us another mystery that is good news to the Church. As believers in Jesus, we have full and direct access to God. Paul describes this truth in Ephesians 3:12: “In Jesus and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
We Can Approach God Freely
Because we have been adopted into God’s family, God invites us to know and understand Him fully. Our prayers to God do not need to be prefaced with offers of deals like, “If you do this for me, I will do that for you.” We are free to talk to God directly without reservation or precondition.
In Ephesians 2:16, Paul prays that God will give us “a spirit of wisdom and understanding.” God wants us to know Him more deeply and personally, without hidden tricks or agendas. His Word, the Bible, is literally an open book to us.
We Can Approach God Confidently
This freedom of speech allows us to approach God without fear of retribution. Think about how parents react when children approach them to ask for something. Are they welcoming and encouraging? Or are they dismissive or even abusive? The parent’s reaction likely determines how their children engage with them – boldly or with trepidation.
Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us that Jesus completely understands us and intervenes on our behalf. It concludes in 4:16 with this encouragement, “Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
“Trust and Obey, For There’s No Other Way”
If you have put your faith in Christ, you don’t have to tiptoe to the throne of God with your head down or agonize over finding the right words. You can come with the freedom and confidence to tell God directly whatever is on your heart and mind because He is always eager to hear from you.
But He also wants to speak to us and guide us in His ways, so He asks us to obey His leading. When we approach His throne, God will reveal as much of Himself as we can absorb as we grow in our faith through obedience. Oswalt Chambers observed, “God never reveals more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you already know.”
Some of His promises may remain a mystery while we are alive, but they are eternal. Corinthians 13:12 promises, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Mystery solved - all treats and no hidden tricks forever.
Maranatha,
Andy
