I was asked the other
day about how I arrived at producing an editorial each week. As in, was
each one an original thought or did I just rewrite another written
article. The brief answer is that they are all “original” thoughts,
however, over the space of about 25 years of writing them, many subject topics
get repeated. Sort of like preachers and their sermons. So, I guess
the answer is, at one time they were original but the basic idea resurfaces
sometimes.
After I answered the
question I got to thinking more about it, how and where my writings come from
and decided that, in a lot of respects, it’s a mystery to me just exactly how
things come together in my head that ends up on paper. I hear or see
something that causes me to think about it and its tie in to the scriptures in
some way and that sort of kicks off the editorial juices. I would imagine
that if you asked artists, poets, editorialists and even preachers what the
process is that brings about their works, they’d pretty much say the same thing
- it’s a “mystery.”
And, serving as an
example of what I just said, I think that I’ll opine for a few moments on that
word - “mystery”
as it applies to the Bible and a lesson from its pages. Perhaps I should
let my questioner know that they are the source of my inspiration today because
that’s just how it works.
You won’t find the word “mystery” in the Old
Testament, at least in the King James Version, as it’s a Greek word roughly
meaning “something known only
to the initiated.” But, even though that exact word isn’t found in
the O.T. the essence of it is when it speaks about things that are mysterious
to us.
A couple of great
examples we can refer to is to read the 38th and 39th chapters of Job where God
is pointing out Job’s lack of understanding (thus a “mystery”) about such things as how the earth
was created. How the land and the sea were made and kept separate.
Where the atmosphere and clouds came from. About where night and day and
dark and light originated. And don’t forget the stars and the heavens and
who takes care of the animals and birds.
All these things God
reminded Job of were “mysteries”
to man. What I find interesting is that man is still arguing and debating
about the origin of those things and they don’t understand and can’t answer
anymore than Job could way back then.
My other example comes
from the writings of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. In the 30th
chapter, verses 18-19, he talks about some things that he describes as “wonderful” (IE: “mysterious). He
mentions the “way”
of eagles in the air, serpents upon rocks, ships in the midst of the sea and
the way of men and women. All “mysterious”
things to man but not to God because He is the Creator of all of them.
Now let’s turn to the
New Testament and the main thrust of our time and space today. What
I intend to do is to present a lesson about what for many centuries was the
greatest “mystery”
of all. The “mystery”
of which Paul speaks of in his letter to the Romans. Notice in chapter
16:25 he refers to this “mystery”
as being something “which was kept secret since the world began.” The
heart, the essence of my thoughts here is to show you that it is no longer a “mystery.”
In order to do that we
must first understand what this
“mystery” was that Paul’s talking about. I’ll submit to you
that there are several ways and various routes one can take to approach this
subject and I’m sure that many lessons have been preached on it, but here’s the
route I intend to take.
First, in Eph. 6:18-19
we find Paul praying for “utterance”
(ability) to be able to boldly
“make known the mystery of the gospel.” In chapter 1,
verses 3-9 we can learn that “all
of our spiritual blessings” are in Christ. And that these
were “chosen”
(selected or appointed) “before
the foundation of the world.” It is through the “blood” of Christ that man
has his “redemption.”
In verse 9 he tells us that this was the
“mystery of his will” and that it’s now “made known” to us.
Now let’s spend a few
moments in the 3rd chapter of Ephesians and learn some more about this “mystery.” In verses
4-6 we see it called the
“mystery of Christ” and that we can “understand” it. That previously it
wasn’t known, but has now been “revealed”
to His apostles by “the Spirit.”
And then we read that this “mystery”
was that the Savior of the world would encompass everyone. That the “Gentiles” would be “fellow heirs” and “partakers of His promise BY THE
GOSPEL.”
Remember the definition
of “mystery?”
(Something “known only to the
initiated”). Now go on down a few verses (9-11) and let’s note
there that the “mystery which
was hidden from the beginning of the world,” that which we just
read about in verses 4-6, is no longer a “mystery.”
It’s been made known and that the “church”
is tasked with the mission of making it known to all the world. You see,
the “church” is
the “initiated.”
But, should you desire
more scriptural proof of Jesus Christ and His blood being the “mystery” of the redemption
of all mankind, read with me what Paul wrote to Timothy regarding this. “And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
There’s an interesting
statement made by Christ in Matt. 13:11 & 17 where He tells his disciples
that it’s “been given unto you
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” He goes on
to let them (and us) know just how blessed they were because “prophets and righteous men”
wanted to know what you now know and never
“heard them.”
I’d like to direct you
to the great prophet, Isaiah, and some prophesy of his fitting to what Jesus
told His disciples in Matt. 13. In Isa. 29:14-24 he prophesied
about the “mystery of
the gospel” however he referred to it as being a “marvelous work and a wonder.”
That when the “Holy One of
Israel” comes the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the meek and
the poor will rejoice. Doesn’t that equate to Jesus Christ and the
revealing of the gospel? Seems so to me.
In conclusion, the “mystery of the gospel” is
no longer one. It is known to all those who desire to know and who
believe His word and in so doing, become
“fellow heirs and partakers” of His promises.
And so, to my
“questioning” brother, this is how it works. I hear something, see
something or in some way sense something and somewhere in the paths of my mind,
and I’ll concede that those paths may be somewhat dim, thoughts start moving
and “voila,” an editorial is born. And, thanks for asking.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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