We must never forget that God is understood to be in a mystery for us. A mystery is true and known but so much information is missing that searching detectives must admit humility in the narrative of the context of the story. God, in the mystery, offers faith to cover both what is known and unknown to understanding, to wisdom and completion for what can only be known and understood fully in eternity’s context. The mystery is temporary in earth’s Christian context. All of this is reflected in the mystery of mankind. With all of our study of the human situation for self, health, meaning, and other factors of the person, we push back some of the mystery, but there is so much yet to be revealed even in the mortal context that may not be revealed in earth’s evidence. Even in the mystery we are functional, and can be successful to purposes approved by both mankind and God. Persons living by faith related to righteousness that projects values in thought and conduct will find the understanding they need pointing to the perfection of knowledge and understanding to wisdom (truth/action). Such identifiable Christian faith justifies claim to immortality.
Even the registration of spiritual mystery is something of mystery. It is expressed as heart, conscience, yearning, desire and finds direction in love, mercy, compassion, empathy, or, as some writers express the matter in sehnsucht (soul longing). It appears in various literatures, and seems to have been a strong point with C. S. Lewis. The expressions of this mystery sometimes becomes so personal and real that one may lapse into argument with God, as Lewis did when his wife of about five years died leaving him, for a short period, in spiritual devastation at his loss. (I have seen the response several times in others, and believe it to be a matter of such concern that there ought to be teaching to the Christian faithful of the possibility, and perhaps to illustrate it in the denial of Peter at the fire, or the sisters at the tomb of their brother, Lazarus. It may have occurred for Abraham on the death of his wife, Sarah. Recovery is in promises. There is no evidence that every case is temporary. I am sure that every Christian will ultimately be: surprised by joy.)
Here there is a point to be made for those serious about managing continually effective and victorious relationship with God. The mystery of the eternal must be managed by faith. God may not be clear about why he permits this or that to happen to persons or nations. In gaining his plan for mankind, found in the nature of his love, he may work the rules or accidents of mortality in ways that the Christian, anticipating benefit from his or her faith, may have to pass through some challenges to faith and escape from the tentacles of doubt and anger. I take it as one of the most valuable lessons of my faith that I learned the Apostle Paul’s point-of-view about all things in the life of a person who depends upon God for all life matters: I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:10) (The Greek word for content here is not the common one used in other passages using content. Here he is contented with his own situation, a word that would mean something more than the contentment of those who persecuted him. The concept is magnificent and belongs to the Christian in a special way that joins his or her sorrows to the sorrows of the suffering Christ.) He continued by summarizing his life as a Christian activist in personal agreement with what Christ gave or permitted to his life, a life committed in all to Christ. He ended the summary with: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (v.13) Details of his suffering experiences, which report he granted reluctantly, are mind boggling. (2 Corinthians 11:18-31) After the litany of experience he added a conclusion in which he recalled his first experience, he seems to have interpreted as cowardly on his part – he escaped secretly from Damascus immediately after his conversion so leaving a possible impression that he had done something furtive and was unwilling to take whatever the authorities might do to him for his new found faith. I learned this lesson in depth on the death of my wife, and learning it I formed the best response to the question: Are you happy? Since the issue was sifted out in my spirit and mind, my answer always is: I am content. And, I am deeply grateful. A part of Christian life is to gain competency to endure the negatives of imperfect earth context. Taking that attitude of mind lifts one above the daily challenges in temporary life and world experience. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020