The best secret of all.
3.5 minute read
Who doesn’t love a good mystery, or its next of kin – a secret?
Anything from a True Crime special to a Mystery flavored AirHead - I’m in. The phrase, “Ok, do not repeat this, but [insert secret or gossip]” makes my heart pitter patter, the popcorn is out, and I'm ashamed to admit I cannot hear the news quickly enough.
Innocently (or not so innocently), it’s human nature to enjoy the excitement of a mystery and to crave a looming secret.
As much fun as it can be in the moment, the shine wears off pretty quickly with mystery and secrets though. The whodunit wasn’t as exciting as you’d hoped, the AirHead flavor came and went like a hot potato, and the gossip you thought would feel good actually feels icky and heavy.
Worldly mystery is fleeting.
But what about the greatest mystery of all? The biggest secret to which we have the key to unlock, and while we do have clues, we don’t know when it will be fully revealed?
Paul tells us about this mystery in Ephesians:
“God has now revealed to us His mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.” Ephesians 1:9-10
“As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed His mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written to you, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by His Spirit, He has revealed it to His holy apostles and prophets.
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:3-6
Paul also talks about this secret in Colossians:
“God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His entire message to you. The message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ is for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing in His glory.”
The mystery of God’s plan is explained through the secret of Jesus! At the right time He will put everything under the authority of Christ. Everyone who believes will share equally as joint-heirs with Christ, and on the day of judgment, everyone who doesn’t will be destroyed.
In Christ, we’ve got The Secret (and I don’t mean the garbage book The Secret), and while we don’t know when “the right time” will be, we do have some clues.
In order to rightly view the clues the Bible gives us, we must first acknowledge how time-obsessed humans are. Most of us (except for Carrie) have a running clock in the back of our mind that makes us say things like:
Are we on time?
Do we have enough time?
Is the timing right?
We’re in a time crunch.
I’ve got a hard stop.
Let’s make this quick.
Is it bedtime yet?
What’s the hourly rate?
Are you having a good time?
What’s your ETA?
We’re delayed.
Be there in 5!
All dang day. We are totally and completely constrained by time.
In stark contrast, God is so very much NOT.
2 Peter tells us in Chapter 3 verse 8, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”
He. Is. Not. Constrained. By. Time. This thing we run our days by does not even touch Him. Peter believes this point is so important he tells them they must not forget it!
And neither should we.
Only with this POWER and MAGNIFICENCE in mind can we rightly view our human desire to know the answer to:
When will this secret be revealed? When will Jesus return?
We want a calendar date, and we want a dress code. We need to lose 5 pounds and have the house cleaned. We need to have our quiet time that day, and we need to finally talk to our neighbor about Jesus.
You know who knows our fleshly desires more than anyone? God. And in His kindness He tells us more about when this day will come right after Peter encourages us to always remember that God not constrained by time. I believe this might be because He knows how much this 1000 years:1 day analogy might make us groan in impatience.
2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”
It’s for our sake He’s being patient, and in His lovingkindness, it’s because He wants all hearts. He knows He won’t get them all, yet He still wants them all.
Furthering the mystery theme and as another clue, in 2 Peter 3:10 he tells us “that day will come as unexpectedly as a thief in the night…”
This puts my brain at ease to know it’s not something for me to figure out, but rather a time in the future for me to prepare for through everyday living. On the flip side though, in reminding me how powerless I am over, well, everything, I can start to feel a little impatient again.
Because He knows us and loves us so deeply, He further acknowledges this impatience in verse 12 – and may I even be so bold as to say this might be the one and only place in the Bible we get permission to be impatient?? Yes?
2 Peter 3:12 says that while waiting for Christ’s return, we should live “looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along…”
So maybe it doesn’t flat out say Be impatient! Getchyer road rage on! Cut ‘em off!, but it does say we can hurry it along. We can be ok with our desire to want Him to come now - He knows we have it - and by urging us to hurry it along, it means we are to live with the guarantee of His coming at the forefront of our daily lives. With this point of view, we then realize how valuable heavenly work is today - ie we’re not just flossing the week before we see the dentist - we’re doing it now!
In addition to hurrying it along and looking forward, we are taught in 2 Peter 3:11 to live holy and godly lives and in verse 14 we are told, “And while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”
How do we live like this?
Well I can assure I cannot live anything close to holy, godly, peaceful, pure, and/or blameless WITHOUT God, so I’d say that’s a good first step here. Abiding in Him, learning more about Him through the Bible, church, fellowship, and making a daily (minute-by-minute sometimes!) decision to trust Him.
The notes of my Bible below 3 Peter summarize this mystery, the secret, and what we do while we wait for it to all be unlocked pretty eloquently, “God is not slow; he just is not on our timetable. Jesus is waiting so that more sinners will repent and turn to him. We must not sit and wait for Christ to return, but we should realize that time is short and we have important work to do. Be ready to meet Christ anytime, even today; yet plan your course of service as though He may not return for many years.”
Dear Lord, thank you for the infinite hope we have in Christ’s return and in our life in paradise with You forever. We tend to want to heaven on earth, and when this happens, will you please remind us how much more you know than we do? Help us to remember You are not constrained by time, You work all things for good, Your ways are higher than ours, and You know all things! Let us do the heavenly work you’ve put before us each day. Help us see them by staying in communion with you. We need you every minute! In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
Suggested Scripture for the Week:
S/M: Ephesians 1:9-10
Do you view Christ as the authority of your life?
T: Ephesians 3:3-6
Why do you think God waited to reveal His plan until after Jesus walked the earth?
W: Colossians 1:25-27
What has God given you responsibility over?
Th: Romans 8:28
What do you think it means to be called to God’s purpose?
F: 2 Peter 3:8
Does this verse encourage you or discourage you? How can you let it encourage you?
S: 2 Peter 3:12
How will you live today to hurry along the promise of Christ’s coming?
If you are unsure whether your salvation is secure, please call or email me! I would love nothing more than to talk to you about how much God knows you and loves you. I’ve also written here on the question of How Do I Get to Heaven?