Today was supposed to be the day we began our walk through the gospels using the filter of “The Mystery” to understand these four all important books concerning the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but, I remembered two scriptures from last Sunday that I wanted to end our class on the not so secret formula to daily peace in a world gone mad. So, we had to spend a few minutes looking at Psalm 39:3-5 and Ecclesiastes 9:10-12:
Psalm 39:3-5: My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Ecclesiastes 9:10-12: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
How do we stay at peace in this crazy world, according to Philippians 4:6-7? Be purposeful, not fearful…be prayerful, not forgetful…be powerful, putting on the whole armor of God each day…be peaceful and thankful. Remember – The peace of God does not come from prayers answered. The peace of God comes from prayers offered. The two scriptures above remind us that we should always keep eternity in mind each day, looking for the imminent return of Christ at the rapture of the Church Age saints. Regardless of how long we have lived, our lives are as brief as vapor escaping a tea kettle, or as David states…my days are as an handbreadth. My age is nothing in comparison to an eternal God. We should also be focused on making our days meaningful, sharing the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that has been entrusted to us. We cannot share anything with anyone after we die. The issue is we do not know when our lives will end. So, please make each day count for the kingdom of God, dear friends!
We did get to lay the groundwork for understanding the gospels through the lens of the mystery dispensation of grace. We had to be refreshed in understanding how the hidden wisdom of God concerning the gospel given to Paul for the Gentile world, was not known at any time in the Old Testament or the gospel period. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written during a 20 year period after the death of Paul. They were written to four specific groups, in order – the Jews, the Romans, the Greek culture in the Roman world, and to all of Asia – the known world of the first century.
Understanding Romans 15:4 and 8 keep us grounded in the fact that all scripture was given by inspiration of God, and that scripture reveals that Jesus was a minister to the circumcision (the Jews) for the truth of God…
The Mystery was kept secret from the beginning, so that the princes of this world would not know what the plan of God was. Steve Gardner came up to me after class to give greater light to 1 Corinthians 2:7-8. God had to have formulated his plan for salvation by grace to the Gentile world before even the angels were created. Lucifer, being the brightest created being may have caught on to the plan had it been formulated after his creation. What a great thought!
Dear friends, the princes of this world had no clue what was waiting after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please refer to Romans 16:25-27, Ephesians 3:1-9, and Colossians 1:25-29 as support scriptures concerning the mystery that was revealed to Paul who revealed it to the apostles – Christ in you the hope of glory! Amen!
We will start our historic walk through the gospels this coming Sunday, looking through the lens of the mystery.