--Learning the Language of Heaven
(Playing Hide and Seek with God)
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
Nature's Mysteries
There has been an urban legend that states that bees shouldn't be able to fly. Scientists are puzzled at the unique aerodynamic aspect of the wings of insects, in general. Obviously, the bees fly anyway! It is somewhat of a mystery.
I have hundreds of ducks and geese that live in my back yard. Some of them are domestic ducks that I purchased to populate our small pond. Several years ago, I wanted to move one of them to another pond about a mile away. I captured one of my large, white ducks and placed it in a closed box in my car and drove him to his new home.
After being released from the box, the white duck was surprised and puzzled at his new home, but he seemed to adjust fine. I had some work to do and periodically looked across the field to check on my new tenant. After an hour of work, I glanced to check on his progress. I couldn't see him and became alarmed, thinking a fox or large turtle might have consumed him. I investigated closer, but the duck had disappeared. I searched all over the property, lamenting over the loss of my duck...and the $15 it cost me!
I finished my work and returned home. I shared the mystery with my wife, poured a large glass of iced tea, and headed to my back deck to relax. The prodigal white duck was sitting by my lawn chair! It appeared angry at me. He had walked (he's too fat to fly) across roads, over a stream, and through fields for one mile and found his way back home. I've heard stories like this before, but I have never personally experienced it. It's a mystery.
Beer Parable
Lastsummer, I began to crave beer. I am not a beer drinker, nor do I even like it. Strange enough, I was craving a certain beer: Guinness. Can you crave something that you've never tasted? Apparently so! It became a joke around our house. Although I had no intentions of buying a Guinness, the strange connection continued for several weeks.
Then on a Friday morning, at 7:15, my prophetic friend, Marc Dupont, called. He began to give me a word about 2008 and, at the conclusion, recommended a book for me to read. I wrote the title of the book down, "Prophetic Untimeliness." In order to purchase the recommended book, I inquired regarding the author's name. Marc responded saying, "Guinness...Os Guinness." It was one of those odd moments. It's another mystery.
Several days later, I devoured the book, and it was life changing. Does God speak through such mysterious language? Bees that can't fly do anyway. Ducks find their way home without maps, and cravings are codes for upcoming books. He hides, we seek. He conceals, we search.
There are many mysteries in life. God is the greatest mystery, with our own destiny running a close second. The challenge of life is solving the mystery of God's communication. Is it meant to be difficult? I suppose that depends on your view of God as a Father.
Easy to Find
My children are all grown now, but I remember when they wanted to play "hide and seek" as a child. They would put their little hands over their eyes and begin counting. Quickly, I made my way to a place that would be easy to discover. Typically, I hid behind the window curtains with my feet sticking out at the bottom. In mere moments, the little kids would scream with glee and hug the daddy-shaped image in the curtain. Loving fathers hide...but not real well. We want to be found! It's a mystery, but not a difficult one. Anyone can play, and everyone can win! God is a loving Father and does the same thing.
Consider this following Scriptural passage in Deuteronomy 30:11-14:
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in Heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into Heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it."
God's mysteries are meant to be solved. They are unto something. They are meant to reveal destinies, plans, strategies, and tactics. He does not hide them far, and invites us to participate. He loves to use terms like seek, ask, and knock.
Trusting the Father
My father used to play a similar game with me. He had a large, old-fashioned, jug sitting inside our front door. When he came home from work each day, he would empty the change out of his pocket into the jug. When vacation time would come, we would empty it, count it, and use it for something fun.
I worked my first real job when I was about sixteen. I came home one day with my first payday. My father must have tuned into my excitement about having cash in my wallet. He looked at me and said, "How much money do you have in your wallet?" I wasn't totally sure, but said, "About thirty dollars." He then said, "I'll give you everything in that jug for everything in your wallet."
This was not uncommon. It was his way of training me to take risks and make quick decisions. I asked him if I could lift the jug, because I couldn't remember when we had emptied it last and how much money it might contain. He declined. I had to take a risk, and I had to make the decision quickly. He told me that the offer was running out fast. I looked at the jug and into his eyes...back to the jug and responded, "You've got a deal." I handed him the thirty dollars and ran to empty the jug. A quick estimate was later confirmed...I had made a good deal. There was over one hundred and twenty five dollars in the jug. Do you know why I made the deal? My father loved me and I knew it! I knew that he would never make an offer to me that wouldn't work for my benefit. A loving God will not tease or trick a son or daughter. That was one of many deals we made over the years. His love empowered me to take risks. He made it easy for me to solve the dilemma, because He loved me.
"...but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32b
It is essential for every believer to enroll in the school of interpretation. Questions need to be answered about God and about each human purpose. It is easy to back off in discouragement at dreams or circumstances that do not make sense. God is inviting us into a life of discovery...solving the mystery. To those that enroll, a life of epiphanies and glorious revelation will occur. Many marriages end today due to a lazy approach to relationship. Mysteries are replete in marriage and need to be sought out. It takes time and energy, but after all, doesn't anything of value require an investment?
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