The Saturday Series - 28 - “Much, But Not All”

(Friends:  Most Saturdays for the duration of this year, I plan on sharing a message that relates to the character and nature of God, and our response thereunto.  I hope you will find it helpful, and as always, thanks for allowing us to send the devotionals to you.  Glen).

The Saturday Series - 28

"Much, But Not All"       

    

   

   

    God explains much, but not all.

     "Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

     "Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why has Thou made me thus?" (Romans 9:20).

    The Lord who "is light" loves to reveal Himself to the conscious beings He created (I John 1:5).  Throughout Scripture, He declares His propensity to self revelation, as unveiled by creation, His Spirit, His Word, His church, and His personal involvement in the lives of all.  He even identifies His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as "the Word" (John 1:1).  Thus, we look to our Heavenly Father with much expectation that He communicates in general, Scriptural, and personal revelation to all who have eyes to see, and a heart to respond.  As A.W. Tozer once wrote, "We will know God about as well as we want to."  Or, we will know Him as well as we respond to His ongoing expression of light regarding His existence, character, nature, and way.  "His secret is with the righteous" (Proverbs 3:32).

    We must also realize that our Lord cannot reveal all of Himself to created beings, including the human race originally made in His image.  The Infinite cannot fully communicate Himself or His truth to the finite.  Nor would He if He could.  God must remain God both in substance and in relationship to us.  We must remain ourselves in terms of being His dependent creatures and children.  Thus, He places limitations on His self revelation and on our capacity to receive and assimilate His truth.  We are all to "think soberly, according as God hath given to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).  Again, we can know much, and far, far more than we presently comprehend.  But we cannot know all, even in that Day to come when "I shall know even as I am known" (I Corinthians 13:12).  God will be God and possessed of infinite knowledge.  We will remain ourselves and understand that which He desires us to know.  

    This truth especially applies to the present when we "see through a glass darkly."  Sometimes we wish our Heavenly Father would explain Himself and His way.  Sometimes He does.  However, we must also navigate paths with Him whereupon we cannot see the next step, trusting His heart when we cannot see whence He leads us.  "I do not understand, Lord!" we may cry out in perplexity.  "I do!" He would say to us in such times.  Herein we rest our hearts.  By definition, those who have entrusted to God their life, way, and being rely on His knowledge rather than their own.   So long as He knows where we go, all will be well even if we cannot see the next step.  The familiar words of Solomon illuminate our way in the darkness: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  "The Light shineth in darkness" to those who recognize that we can know much about our Lord and His working in our lives.  But we cannot know all (John 1:5).  

"The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

(Proverbs 4:18)

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."

(Psalm 112:4)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

(John 14:27)