Message Follow Up | A Dimly Lit Room – Part 1: Who He Is
By David McNeely
God is mysterious. Blog is done.
Ok so a little further explanation is required. Although the entirety of the Godhead is mysterious, the Holy Spirit seems to be the one with whom we have the least understanding. RC Sproul wrote an entire book on it and titled it, The Mystery of the Spirit.
In Forgotten God, Francis Chan writes, “As I thought about writing this chapter, I realized how ludicrous it would be for anyone to say they were going to explain the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we cannot fully understand God, and I am certainly not going to be the exception to that rule.”
Consider these scriptures:
Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
Job 11:7-8 (NIV)
Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
Isaiah 40:13 (NIV)
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Romans 11:33 (NASB)
Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. In many ways both sexes carry the same image. But in some ways each sex is unique as an image bearer. The Holy Spirit is mysterious and women put on display this mysterious nature of God.
A great line came from Doc in Back to the Future II. He said, “The time-traveling is just too dangerous. Better that I devote myself to study the other great mystery of the universe: women!” Comedians joke about it, sociologists research it, philosophers ponder it, and theologians celebrate it. Women are a mystery because God is a mystery.
A mystery can either draw us in or push us away. We can either be exasperated that something will never be fully known or we can embrace the wonder. I spend no time trying to understand Fermi Bubbles. It’s beyond me and would only produce frustration.
But the journey of discovery associated with my wife is actually a joy. Sure I’m frustrated at times, but it is well worth the pursuit. It’s worth the pursuit because she’s worth it. What I do understand is wonderful. What I don’t understand adds to the wonder of who she is.
My father gave some advice years ago. It has served me well when I remember to rest in the wisdom of it. He said, “Women are not a puzzle to be solved. They are a picture to be admired.” There is always more to discover and enjoy in a masterpiece from Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, or Picasso. They were great painters. But the best of painters pale in comparison to the originator of art and His crown jewel called woman.
Women are not supposed to be “figured out.” They are to be pursued. How much more mystery is in woman than art? She will never be fully known, but oh how worthy is the pursuit that leads to discovery. And how much more mystery is in The Holy Spirit than in woman? He will never be fully known. But oh how worthy is the pursuit that leads to discovering who God is.
Embrace the fact you will never fully understand women. Women don’t fully understand women. Pursue her and enjoy the continuous discovery of who she is. And remember God made it this way to give us a clue about Himself. Embrace the fact you will never fully understand God. Draw near to this mysterious person called the Holy Spirit. Pursue Him and enjoy the continuous discovery of who He is.
The pursuit is worth it because He is worth it.