They say all good things must come to an end. So, our “Asking for a Friend” sermon series at Aldersgate is coming to a close. I hope you have enjoyed the past five weeks of sermons, videos, and blogs answering some tough questions. It has certainly been a test for the staff and I as we have conferred, debated and even argued about the best way to answer some of your friend’s questions. With each subject, we have tried to express diverse viewpoints, offer our distinct perspective, and leave room for you to ponder. Above all, I hope it has challenged you to continue going deeper in your relationship with God.
In my time with God this morning I came across this verse from 1 Timothy 3:16 (The Message):
This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough: He appeared in a human body, was provided right by the invisible Spirit, was seen by angels. He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, taken up in heavenly glory.
There are questions about God that are a mystery indeed. In the Bible, a mystery is something that is hidden and waiting to be revealed. In Job, we are told that we can’t even fathom the mysteries of God (Job 11:7-9). Jesus spoke of “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). And Paul used the word “mystery” in his writings some 21 times. There are some things we just don’t know and won’t know this side of heaven.
Yet, as Paul makes clear in 1 Timothy 3:16, there are things that have already been revealed and are no longer a mystery to us. We know that Jesus came to this earth, died, and rose from the dead! We know that believing that means we will spend eternity with God in heaven. We know that God’s grace is always greater than our mess-ups! Thank, God!
Here’s what I have discovered: the more I learn about God, the less I know. And yet, that’s what brings me deeper in my relationship with Him. Who would God be if we could explain Him? Our words can’t define Him because He’s greater than words can capture. Our boxes can’t contain Him because He’s greater than any box we can construct. Our finite minds can’t adequately describe Him because He is the one who created our limited minds. But we should never stop exploring the vastness of God. It’s the searching that brings us deeper on our journey with Him!
So, keep searching. Keep asking. Keep questioning.
Ryan Smallwood
P.S. We haven’t answered all your questions! We have more to come in some upcoming sermons and message series about relationships, marriage, grief and other various questions. If you don’t feel we’ve answered your question yet, hang on, it’s probably coming!
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