The Questions With No Answers … Yet

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of His law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

As I began to preach in my young days by appointment out of Oklahoma City, I was able to enjoy the benefit of watching, talking, studying, and praying with older and wise men of God.

Among the many pieces of good advice was this nugget:  If you are ever asked a question and you are not sure about the answer do not be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I will do my very best to find out.”

It did not take long before that sage advice needed to be applied and it has been present in my heart ever since.  I have been asked many questions over the years … in Bible classes … after sermons … in private conversations, etc.

The fact is … I like to ask questions as well.  And I have found that there are some questions, especially of a spiritual nature, that do not have an answer to be found this side of eternity.

I don’t know what we will look like if by God’s grace and mercy we find Heaven to be our eternal residence … I just do not want to miss being with the Lord forever!

I don’t know how that transformation is going to take place … I just know that the Lord promises that it will.

I don’t know what the forbidden fruit was that Eve and Adam ate … I just know they chose to not obey God’s instructions and it cost them and all of mankind to follow.

I don’t know what the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was … and neither do you.  Over the years I have witnessed a lot of speculation in the pulpit, the teaching rostrum, or on someone’s living room sofa … and the dangers that can come out of such efforts when speculation takes center stage.

I don’t know when Jesus Christ is coming back to judge this world in righteous judgment … no one, not even God’s Son knows!  (Matthew 24:36) Only God knows … but I do know this … I sure better be ready for His coming.

We must not be guilty of the “sin of presumption.” (Psalm 19:13)

There is one thing we all have in common … besides the problem of sin (Romans 3:23). We all know what it means to hurt.  Pain, disappointment, heartache, suffering, depression, anxiety … these are all universal terms to describe when things are not so good with us.

The list of unpleasantries that can and do occur in life is endless and God never promised that His “elect … His special people … those who have chosen to walk by faith” will be spared or exempted from such!

Our God, well … He is not just good!  He is perfectly good in every way and all the time.  And our loving Heavenly Father is always aware of the needs of His people.

He never promised to remove the hardship, disappointments, and challenges of living in this evil and corrupt world.  But what He has promised is to go with us through whatever the difficult situation might be!

I will tell you straight up that I do not understand or know why parents sometimes must bury their children.  I just know that they do!

I do not know why bad things happen to good people … but they do!

There are many mysteries … many unexplained things that can and do happen in this world … and there is no earthly answer … but God knows the answer.

Perhaps we should decide that rather than trying to decipher what the first portion of Deuteronomy 29:29 means … we should lay hold of the rest of the verse where we read, “… but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever …”

Not to answer every question.  Rather “… that we may obey His law.” 

We will have to wait until God is ready to give us the rest of the story in eternity!

God’s answer to the problem of evil in this world is found in a person … Jesus Christ, “His only begotten Son!” This is the answer to the most important of questions, “What must I do to be saved?”

At the cross God declared victory. Our toughest questions may never be answered this side of eternity, but each day is a gift God has given us to bring glory to Him.

Tears are not a respecter of age, gender, or nationality. And the question so often asked, “Why?” … sometimes just does not have an answer.

But the one truth that can hold us up, strengthen us, and give us the courage to get up out of bed the next morning when someone asks, “Where are You, God?”  The answer is:  He is right where He has always been … right there with you! (Hebrews 13:5,6)

And so, as we wrestle from time to time with the “why?” of things, let us turn our focus to His Good Book … stay in it daily … live in it always … claim its blessings … and let the disposition of “godliness” prevail.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.” (Romans 11:33)

 

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

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