Devotionals by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

This is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) 

You might have the idea that if you take pen in hand and open the Bible and start in Genesis and work your way through to Revelation, you’ll have it all put together. You’ll not only understand everything about God, you’ll understand all the mysteries, right? Wrong!

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (Romans 11:33 NASB)

Remember those words when you travel down the road in hopes of understanding and knowing your God. Realize in advance that you will come to some streets that are mysterious and unfathomable. Don’t let the mystery surprise you or disturb you. God planned it that way.

It occurs to me that there are several theological thoughts that are incomprehensible. Four come to mind.

1. Trinity. There is one God yet three distinct persons. The Godhead is co-equal, co-eternal, co-existent: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Much of that remains a profound mystery. Don’t lose sleep if you cannot unravel the truth of the Trinity.
2. Glory. The Trinity has to do with the person of God. Glory has to do with the presence of God. It has something to do with light—with blinding brilliance. The people sensed His presence in the tabernacle and the temple because the light of His glory was there. That same glory of God was later lifted from the place of worship and removed because of the unbelief of the people. There is something terribly mysterious about the glory of God, revealed through Scripture. Don’t weary yourself trying to unscrew the inscrutable.
3. Sovereignty. This has to do with the plan of God. Certainly, He is in control of all things; yet, even though He is perfectly holy, sin is present. He permits it. He allows it. Without being contaminated by the sin, our Holy God is working out His plan. If you want to engage in a futile study, try to reconcile those things. No, seriously, quit trying to reconcile it! Take it by faith!
4. Majesty. This relates to the Father’s position. He is unseen and will remain unseen throughout eternity. I’m not sure if we will ever see God the Father, even in a glorified state, and yet He’s there in all of His glory. His majestic position will never be diminished—and yet I’m sure we’ll never be able to grasp it on this earth. Just believe it. And bow before His almighty majesty.

Taken from Growing Deep in the Christian Life by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1986, 1995 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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