“According as He has chosen us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world…” Ephesus 1:4
Dear Ones:
How big is God? Paul responds to that question by writing: “…how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.” (Romans 11:33) In other words, in our consideration of God, and how “big,” or great He is, we are confronted with His own words: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is.55:9) In reading this verse, the believer is immediately confronted with the fact that God is so very great and mighty, that only as HE reveals Himself to us, in our limitations, and this, by the Spirit, will we even begin to know and understand Him. One aspect of His greatness and wisdom that is impossible for us to truly grasp is His “prescience,” or foreknowledge. Our perspective as human beings is basically linear, experienced in three dimensions. However, in the realm of WHO and WHAT God is, we are confronted with another dimension, one so vast, great, holy, and unique, that we can only trust God to reveal Himself to us with regard to this dimension. For example, Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth: “…even so the things of God knoweth NO man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11) This fact puts man on a dead-end road with regard to his knowledge of God, were it not for God’s provision BY THE SPIRIT. Paul wrote: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God.” (v.12) What is it that we learn by these statements? It is that, only God can reveal the things of God to us. Practically speaking, we see this revealed by Jeremiah’s declaration: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is NOT in himself: it is NOT in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (10:23) Paul confirms this thought by adding: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?” (Rom. 11:34) And then, “For of Him (the Lord Jesus), and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.” (11:36) The point is this: God is incomprehensible, unfathomable, beyond what we could “ask or think,” and yet, He has in His sovereign wisdom, power, and love, CHOSEN to reveal Himself to us, in creation, in His written word, and ultimately and completely in the flesh, in His Son. It is to Him by creation that we belong, and also, and foremost, by redemption. For what purpose? Paul would declare it by writing: “…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7) Peter would show us God’s way in doing so: He would give us “…exceeding and precious promises,” with regard to His divine power. By these, we would be partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) What then are we to do?
The first thing we need to understand is that God desires and WILLS that all come to a saving knowledge of Him. As Christ tasted death for EVERY MAN, so we must understand and grasp that He did so for ME, for US all. Secondly, we need to see that Christ has accomplished, by His sacrifice on Calvary, a perfect and complete work whereby all barriers to fellowship between God and man are removed. Christ Himself has become our everlasting peace. Thirdly, we need to understand that there is a certain WAY by which the believer can KNOW God. In speaking of God’s eternal purpose, Paul writes: “…in whom (in Christ) we HAVE boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.” (Eph. 3:12) Here is God’s way of knowing Him, and Him revealing Himself to and through the soul…communion according to the truth of His word (…and promises), and reliance upon the power of the Spirit.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see the possibility and means by which we can know Thee, for Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad