09/01/2021
How is our faith constructed? Who are we without Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit? Wasn’t it God’s plan from our inception that one would come to us then the other? That we are saved, and redeemed by Christ, and led by the Holy Spirit, so that in this way we can once again walk with God, as Adam walked? Isaiah prophesied regarding the coming of Jesus, and it has come to be. He also told us that God’s Spirit would come to us, and that too is now true, but is there more than this? Is there a mystery to solve?
“Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.”
Isaiah 48:16 ESV
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; at a glance it all seems so simple, straightforward, and linear, but is it? Perhaps not. We are the partakers of a great mystery. No one comes to God except through Jesus, no one comes to Jesus unless drawn by God, and no one can truly understand Jesus, or God without the guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit. In this way our faith is much like two hands clasped tightly in prayer with their fingers interlaced, and yet they are not made complete until the breath of prayer (the Holy Spirit) is breathed into them. In this realization do we find the chicken and the egg conundrum, is this a mystery of faith?
So Jesus is one hand, and He tells us that no one can come to the Father except through Him…
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 ESV
And God is the other hand that is joined in embrace with the Son, and Jesus tells us that we don’t come to Him unless God draws us.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—”
John 6:44-45 ESV
In this there is the makings of a divine mystery, and so we turn to the Holy Spirit for understanding and ask him which of these hands proceeded the other, and by what path we have been led this far towards our faith. Yet in turning to the Spirit we find that there is yet another piece to this puzzle… how is it that the breath of our prayers has come to be breathed into these two hands? Was the prayer truly breathed into the hands, or did the hands encompass the prayer? We pray to God, we pray in the name of Jesus, and often the Holy Spirit prays for us… so did prayer precede our search for of both God and Jesus as we shouted out “Who are you?!” What is the answer? What is the solution? How is our faith constructed, and in what way does this mystery unfold?
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
John 16:13-14 ESV
So in our inability to understand, we turn to scriptures that help us, and we grab hold of verses that say such things as God’s thoughts are not like ours, and that we should not lean on our own understanding. In such passages we enter into our faith, and we hold tightly to our belief in things unseen, because we know by the very presence of God, who we feel each day, by the healing touch of Christ in whom we experience miracles, and by the warm breath of the Holy Spirit as we pray, that we are talking to God. In this way we believe that what we cannot see is true, and that the mysteries are only such in our eyes… this is our spiritual solution to what we find unfathomable… it is in this way that we are able to continue the construction of our faith.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 ESV
We are constantly seeking God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, because we are inquisitive creatures, and by our nature we are uneasy with things we don’t understand. To this end the mysteries of our faith lead us deeper into God with each passing day, and when we resolve one mystery it becomes clear to us that we have simply uncovered the next. In this way we find that each step taken is by unquenchable faith alone.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the onion of faith that we peel back each day, and thank you for the new truths, and understandings we find regarding you. We lean on you for our understanding, and trust in you to reveal your mysteries to us in the fullness of time. Strengthen us in our faith Lord, and never let our sense of wonder wane. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose mysterious ways capture the hearts and imaginations of all who seek you. Praised be your name for every answer you provide us regarding our relationship with you, and for each increase in the revelation of your love for us. You are merciful Father, to your grace never ceases to pour out onto us. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and prepare us for that day when our worthiness will be judged. We pray that you will be pleased with us, and that you will welcome us with outstretched arms, and the answer to our most perplexing of your mysteries.
Rich Forbes