“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1st Cor. 13:12)
Those who have been crucified with Christ are hid in Christ, but who are we hid from? Surely not Satan, for in this life we are still buffeted by him, so is this hiding place from the wrath of God?
Jacob went to the land of Laban and remained there for twenty years, why didn’t Isaac and Rebekah go to visit him, it was a long distance, but twenty years is a long time. Why was Gideon allowed to test the angel’s revelation to him, not once, but twice? Why was John the Baptist’s father silenced for almost a year for simply asking a question, while Mary, asking an almost similar question was not?
“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31)
Plain speak, but none present understood what the Lord meant.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1st Cor. 2:14)
Much of the glass my friends will remain dark until we are glorified, and even then, we will never fully understand our Father in heaven.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)
You can pray for wisdom, for Spiritual discernment, for a heart that can discern between good and evil, for truth, and still a large part of the Scriptures we will never completely comprehend.
If circumcision was an outward sign of faith in the Almighty, of obedience to His will, what was that outward sign for the women of those days? What were the conversations that the Lord Jesus Christ had with Judas Iscariot late at night, away from the hearing of others, do we have complete and full free will, or is the Most high fully and completely Sovereign?
“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” (Eccl. 1:18)
The dark glass must be looked through with faith, with the acceptance of the truth that we do not need to know the answer to every question, that the Living God knows what He is doing. The word “why” can be a trap in and of itself, if it is not answered in faith, it will be answered with doubt.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)
And to that we should simply say “Amen.”
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Romans 8:24)
The Almighty has left some of His Book for us open-ended, so to speak, not so that we will doubt, but so that faith, a continuing and abiding faith will need to be tested, so that the chaff can be separated from the wheat. The Lord has, for His own reasons and glory, revealed more of His truths to some than to others, these are held accountable to offer those truths to those who do not yet know them. If their words are tested against the Scriptures and found to be true, then those receiving those truths are to accept them as such, in faith, even though a large part of the glass remains dark.
A prophet in the Old Testament was sent to the people by the Most High to inform them of His will, a prophet today is one who has been blessed with the truths of the Scriptures by the Lord and is to reveal those truths to all that will listen.
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56)
We have seen His day as well.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 3:2)
There is no darkness in that glass, this is plain and simple, and it is to be our message to them.
The questions of “why” can come later. The just live by faith, not sight, and they do not need many of those questions answered. The Word of God calls them a glass darkly, and we accept them as such, in faith.
Be cautious of those doubts that may arise if you decide to peer deeply into that glass.
