Sometimes Not Knowing is a Good Thing

The Secret Keeper

Deuteronomy 29:29 (NCV)  There are some things the Lord our God has kept secret, but there are some things he has let us know. These things belong to us and our children forever so that we will do everything in these teachings.

Are you a “secret” keeper? When someone asks you if you can keep a secret, do you listen and then hide what was revealed somewhere down deep? I think I’ve been a “secret” keeper since I was 5 years-old. My father and I were out Christmas shopping for my Mom. When we finally found the perfect gift, Dad asked me not to tell my mom what we purchased. He explained that if I told her what her gift was, she wouldn't be a surprise on Christmas day.  I guess this made sense to me so I kept the identity of the gift a secret. Try as she may, I never revealed the contents of the package.

Sometimes there are really good reasons for us not to know things. In Deuteronomy 29:29 we learn that God has kept some things secret from us. Have you ever wondered why? This morning as I read over this verse, I was reminded of the tiny little secret I kept as a 5-year-old. It was an innocent little secret not meant to hurt anyone. It was simply not the time to reveal the contents of the gift. My dad’s intent was to surprise my mom.

When I think about why God keeps secrets, I don’t think He’s unfair or trying to “keep” something from us just to zap us. God is not unfair or unjust. His character, revealed through scripture, is completely the opposite.  God is light (1 John 1:5), love (1 John 4:8) and He is full of peace (1 Cor. 14:33). “The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9 – NIV)  He loves us so much (John 3:16). He even calls us His children...heirs (Romans 8:17). 

So why would he keep “secrets”? The notes in my study Bible offers 3 possibilities:

1. Our finite minds can’t fully understand the infinite aspects of God’s nature and the universe (Ecc. 3:11)
2. Some things are unnecessary for us know until we are more mature
3. God is infinite and all-knowing, and we do not have the capacity to know everything He does

Number 2 really spoke to me this morning. I know there have been several times in my life where I would not have grown in my faith and trust in God if I would have known what He knew. Might I suggest to you that “not knowing” allows us to draw closer to our heavenly Father.

The Bible does reveal everything we need to know to put our trust in Him, obey Him, serve Him, and grow in our faith. If we choose to disobey, it’s not because of a lack of knowledge…it’s an act of OUR will.

Seeing Jesus face to face

Psalm 11:7 (NIV) For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

This morning, as I continue to look into the characteristics and promises of God, I turned my focus to God’s righteousness. To begin my study, I went to the dictionary to get a definition of the word. According to Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the word righteous means:

Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man.

So righteous means “one who is holy in heart” and “observant of the divine commands in practice”. As I pondered this definition I thought about the definition of the word holy and again returned to the dictionary. Holy means:

Holy: Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections.

Perfect. Pure in heart. Free from sin.

The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So if we have all sinned, how can we stand before a holy (pure, sinless, perfect) God? The Bible tells us the wages of sin has always been and will always be…death (Proverbs 10:16 & Romans 6:23). We see this from the very beginning of human existence. Instead of living forever in the Garden of Eden with God, Adam and Eve sinned, were cast out of the garden and physical and spiritual death entered the equation. Because of their sin, we see God provide the first sin offering. Genesis 3:21 (GW) tells us:

The Lord God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and dressed them.

To atone for Adam and Eve’s sin, something had to die. The Hebrew word for atone is “to cover”. The blood of an innocent and spotless animal had to be shed. Year after year on the Day of the Atonement the nation of Israel came together to confess their sin. Sacrifices would be made and animal blood would be shed so their sins would be covered.

Notice I said “covered” and not “removed”.

 

Each year the Israelites were reminded of their sin and felt guilty all over again. What they really needed was forgiveness…the permanent, powerful, sin-destroying forgiveness that only the shed blood of Jesus Christ could give. At His crucifixion, our sin was poured into Jesus and His blood was poured out to eradicate it once and for all. Jesus became the final sacrifice for sin.

In Romans 3:22, just before the verse that tells us we’ve all fallen short, we see that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ. If we confess our sin, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Did you see that?

Because Jesus, the spotless lamb of God, died on the cross to pay for our sin once and for all, we are purified from ALL unrighteousness…meaning we are made right with God, we are righteous! In fact, when we accept Jesus’ redeeming work on Calvary, we are called children of the Most High God. Think about that for a moment. We can have an abundant relationship with the God who spoke the entire universe into existence. Hebrews 4:19 tells us we can approach His throne with boldness and confidence. One day, we will even see the Lord face to face.

I wonder what that day will be like?