“…Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23
Dear Ones:
In the Old Testament, a “man of God” came to the wife of Manoah, the father of Samson. In a meeting between this man of God, and Manoah, not realizing that he was speaking to “…an angel of the Lord,” Manoah asked to know his name. The angel of the Lord would then reply: “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret.” (Judges 13:18) This word secret can be translated by implication, “wonderful.” The root meaning in the Hebrew of this word, “secret” implies being “separate, distinguished, great, difficult, and wonderful.” The meaning actually goes further, in that it speaks of that which is hidden, too high, marvelous, wondrous.” In essence, it appears that the Lord was telling Manoah that His name represented something that was so wonderful, high and holy, that it was beyond the capacity and reach of Manoah to understand the meaning of it.
In the book of Isaiah, we find that this “child to be born, this Son to be given”, referred to, with the government upon His shoulder, was to be called: “Wonderful.” Why does the Lord Jesus describe Himself with this word? It is because of the indescribable worth, beauty, and incomprehensible wonder of His person. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses terms like the “peace that passes all understanding,” and “the love of Christ, which passes knowledge.” We are brought face to face with the reality of God who exists, and works, in a manner, that is “…beyond what we could ask or think.”
The contrast to God, who is wonderful, is sinful man. The word of God speaks of men being as grass, which withers and dies. It also speaks of that which is just the opposite of “wonderful,” the resolute defiance of God in His wonder and beauty, embracing only that which man can produce out of the depths of his depraved mind and heart. On the one hand, there is a God whose love is beyond our capacity to understand and fully grasp. On the other hand, there is the heart of unbelieving man, defying the goodness that God. So, why speak in the context of such things about the “groaning” in our hearts for that moment when we shall be forever with the Lord? The answer lies in the magnitude of the salvation that Christ has won on the cross for sinful man, to save and deliver him from the power of sin and Satan, in order to give him the wonderous goodness of God in fullest measure. It also speaks of the incomprehensible working of the Spirit of God in the heart, creating in the heart of the believer that longing for heaven and home. The believer’s home is where Christ IS. That longing is God’s promise of blessing upon His child.
In the gospel of John, we discover the status of sinful man with regard, to the sinless, wondrous Redeemer. “He (the Lord Jesus) came to His own, and His own received Him not.” (1:11) The whole of the experience of man concerning the goodness, love, and peace of God, is only known by him receiving by faith the Savior, embracing Him to be what he declares to be, the One upon whose shoulders the government rests. He IS the Incomparable Master, Lord, and King. Because of the revelation of His power and authority, His wisdom and grace, there can be no other response to Him by man, than the falling down before Him, to adore and love Him. It is only in this relationship of yielding the authority of the life to God, that man can truly receive, not only the truth of Christ, but His very LIFE. John goes on the write: “But, as many as received Him, to them gave He POWER to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (v.12) Herein is the key of understanding, though looking through “a glass darkly” the glory of the Lord, that He is truly Wonderful.
Dear Father, Show us Your beauty, and clothe us with it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad