The Wisdom of God (Part 3)

Dear Bethelites,

In our last pastoral chat, we suggested several reasons why worldly wisdom cannot be true  wisdom because (1) it keeps changing, (2) it cannot deliver what it promised, (3) it does not  give you the true ultimate answer to life, and (4) it is not lasting.

Then the Apostle Paul continued, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the  hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7).  Here, the word mystery does not refer to something strange and puzzling, but rather it is that  which was kept in secret, or in time past, and subsequently revealed. For example, the gospel  was a mystery in the Old Testament, and God unfolded this mystery in the New Testament  when Christ appeared in human form.

Mysteries are secrets that are impossible for man to know; unavailable and not-understandable  to man, until God reveals those secrets. God reserved the right to reveal them to whom He  chose to reveal. God chose to hide this hidden wisdom from the natural man because he  considers it foolishness. But God chose to reveal this hidden wisdom to His beloved children  whom He had ordained before the foundation of the world.

Thus, it explains the differences to the preaching of God’s Word; everyone may hear the same  message, but some would be granted understanding. While for others, the message would  remain a hidden mystery. In this regard, preachers ought to be reminded that they are just  stewards of the mysteries of God, and it is the Lord who grants the understanding. 1  Corinthians 4:1, Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the  mysteries of God.

Verse 8a, Which none of the princes of this world knew: During the time of Christ, the leaders  of the Jewish people did not know who He was, and they demanded that He be put to the  cross. The leaders of the Romans did not know who He was and they conceded to the request  to crucify Him, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (v.8b).

To the vast majority, Jesus was just a poor carpenter’s son, a friend of sinners, and they did not  want such a person to rule over them, thus they crucified the Lord of glory. Who is Jesus Christ  to you? Are you able to say like the disciple Peter, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God  (Matthew 16:16)!

Verse 9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the  heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. This was a  quotation from Isaiah 64:4. Here, the emphasis was that the natural eyes, ears and heart of  man cannot comprehend God’s wisdom. Man can never discover God’s truth through human  observation and reasoning. In fact, the more a man tries to discover God’s truth based on his  own human understanding, the more frustrated he will be. He will reject divine truth because  the natural eyes, ears and minds simply cannot fathom the things of God.

As believers, we understand God’s truth, and we rejoice every time we are reminded of God’s  plans, and we are eager to hear God’s wisdom as revealed to us through His Word and His  Spirit. God’s truth, plans and wisdom, are the things which God hath prepared for them that  love him.

Verse 10, But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,  yea, the deep things of God. We were once like the natural man who cannot understand the  wisdom of God. But God speaks of His invention. These two words tell us what God alone had  done for us, how He had intervened in our lives which otherwise we would remain in a most  hopeless state. Martin Lloyd Jones rightly said, “These two words, (but God) in and of  themselves, in a sense contain the whole gospel!”

Oftentimes when a person shares his testimony of salvation, he tends to bring himself to the  lowest point as he describes the wretchedness of his sins; he could be a hardcore alcoholic or  drug-addict, a compulsive gambler, an immoral adulterer, or a diehard atheist. Just when you  thought how much more depraved anyone can be, he suddenly turns around and says, But God  was merciful to me, and He saved me! It is the climax of his life-story, and a most wonderful way  to give glory to God.

What about your life, my friend? As you reflect upon your life, are you able to say, but God…..? 

In Christ,

Pastor Paul Cheng