Mystery is a major interest of mankind. It emerges year after year in the media as a constant interest for popular entertainment, especially as it relates to crime, but also in probing the secrets of health, nature, and human belief and conduct. We are surrounded by mystery, and it either inspires us to seek truth unraveling mystery, or we resign ourselves to life as we find it, live out our years, and pass as self-conscious animals at the end of the years. Some persons are put-off by mystery. If there is God, they feel he has failed them in some way by not being clear, in the natural world – related to verifiable evidence, about himself and his processes. In the meantime serious men and women continue to probe nature to push back the lines of mystery so to make known that which is currently unknown (mystery, of which ignorance is a factor).
For some reason we feel that ignorance is an ugly situation, when, in fact, the very recognition of mystery is a gift no dumb animal has received. In human belief we try to manage nature to cover the ignorance of animals, so to make them free to live as they find their very limited contexts for creativity and profound limitations. We save the whales, the lions, the turtles, the eagles because they are too limited in the knowledge of life and change. They get just enough from mankind (their god) to survive in zoos, reserves, and as pets and burden-bearers to the god-man. Their knowledge of the mystery (unknowns) of their lives relates as a parable to mystery (unknowns) in the lives of mankind. Thoughtful men and women work at pushing back the natural mysteries, and at pushing back even some of the mysteries of God. The contexts of both groups are benefitted when they work together to accomplish their goals. The parables revealing God are found in the life and experience of mankind. As far as we know the most significant witness of this was Jesus Christ, and the most significant of an entirely human searcher was the Apostle Paul: . . . . by revelation he made known unto me the mystery. (Ephesians 3:3) There were others, of course, as Adam/Eve, Abraham, David, the Prophets, Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ disciples, and persons identified in Scripture, implied in persons like Melchizedek. God has protected mankind as mankind has protected animals, for the reason that mystery would overcome the species. What is unavailable to us is not our responsibility. (Acts 17:30) What is available may be a matter of life and death. We are called upon from God to seek knowledge, both natural and supernatural – push back the boundaries of mystery. We have lost some of that commission given to Adam in turning education into a matter of economic benefit more than personal, to wealth rather than to truth and character, to processes rather than wisdom, to self-interest without God.
We are reminded in Scripture that godliness (awareness in faith and practice of seeking God’s approval) is closely related to mystery. It is an emphasis that we little call upon to help us explain spirituality. We ought to give a bit more understanding to faith as God’s provision to cover the factors of mystery. That we do face mystery does not mean that it cannot be pushed back, so reducing that volume of mystery remaining. That there is mystery does not mean that all mystery must remain. To unravel part of it does not mean we gain all of it. God evaluates us, to large meaning, on what we are doing about our life journey toward the Kingdom of God. There is a Pilgrim’s Progress. Not to seek it means, perforce, that there is regress. There is likely no resistance as great to the invitation of God as that found in the elderly person who during a long lifetime has disengaged with any spiritual concern in life. The mystery appeared for a short time long ago, was dismissed, and will not be found. That person walks alone into the mystery of death. Death too is a mystery. There are physical researchers at work trying to find out the mystery of life. Their next goal is to find whatever is out there so to lengthen life significantly. The first goal appears to be 150 years. The Week magazine announced: Live to be 150: all you need to do is follow these instructions, says this MIT expert. From there it is hoped that evidence may be found to lengthen life further, perhaps stop death. But where are resources to be found to care for burgeoning elder populations. Christians are students (seekers) who resolve mysteries through the Holy Spirit, Scripture, prayer, faith, church and the fellowship with others of like precious faith. (2 Peter 1:1) If Scripture is true, I have been unable to find a better option. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020