Who doesn’t love a good secret? Secrets by definition are unknown or unseen. They are by design created to be kept from others. As we move through these tumultuous times, we may question, “what is God doing?” Is there some secret thing God is doing and not sharing with us?
As the children of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, they, like us, were curious as to what God had planned for their lives. Moses addressed their curiosity with a clever statement of fact about the revelations of God that still holds true today—“the secret things belong to the LORD but the things revealed belong to us.” (Deut. 29:29 (NIV)
Does God have secret things in 2022 that are known only by Him? And what are the things God is revealing to us? Does this verse still hold true as we face the new challenges of 21st century living? How do the secret things of God affect our life and purpose?
Curiosity and secrets—good or bad?
It is the nature of man to be curious about secret things. These are things that remain hidden from our immediate view. This curiosity has led to man’s fascination with astrology, fortune telling and other future gazing activities. Secret things have contributed to the bizarre growth in social media followings, gossip tabloids and entertainment shows that uncover the latest exposés of the rich and the famous.
Secrets have enormous power. They add to our nervousness about the future especially when we don’t know what “we don’t know”.
The secret things
The secret things are those things known only by God. The prophet Isaiah best captures this truth in the difference between human and divine knowledge: “His (God’s) thoughts are not our thoughts, nor our ways His ways. As the heavens are higher than earth, so are His ways and thoughts higher than ours” (Isa. 55:8-9).
While we may feel that we have the right to be aware of all plans pertaining to our future, it is sovereign God who ultimately determines what needs to be known and what must be accepted by faith alone. “The just shall live by faith” is an iconic expression of trust and hope. Its intent is to encourage us to confidently proceed without all the answers (Jer. 29:11-13).
The things that belong to us
The things that belong to us are those truths which God has communicated through His Holy Spirit and through His Word. With the coming of Pentecost, we as believers have been gifted with the Holy Spirit to live within us. Jesus provided not only a Comforter with the Holy Spirit but also His Presence to guide us in all truth (John 16:13).
God’s Word continues to reveal His nature and His never ending love for us. From Genesis to Revelation, God discloses Himself as the Master Creator seeking to restore His relationship with His beloved Creature.
The greatest evidence of God’s persistence and love is His plan of salvation. Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the penalty of death and reconciled us to our Father. In addition, we have been empowered to live victoriously with the promise of eternal life, beginning now (1 John 3:2).
Knowledge of the revealed things
Our challenge as Believers will come in our ability to walk in the truth that God has revealed to us and to obediently follow His directions. Through the things that belong to us we gain a thorough knowledge of God and what is needed to live godly lives (2 Pet. 1:3).
Shifting societal and moral norms will force us to “stand fast” in that which has been clearly revealed by God (Eph. 6:11-13; 2 Thess. 2:15). Such shifts will lead to continual rejection of Christian beliefs and persecution by this fallen world (2 Tim. 3:12). The current health pandemic, financial downturn and civic discord have added even more pressure on our walk of faith.
Recent studies indicate that we are one generation away from losing our belief in God. Therefore, it is critical that we also teach the revealed truth of God to our children and grandchildren (Deut. 11:19). Our failure to do so could result the loss of our families to the world.
Go with what we know
Jesus has more than adequately prepared us for such a time as these: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As believers we need not concern ourselves with the secret things we don’t know BUT to trust and obey that which we do know.
Next week we will explore the truths God has revealed to us.
Growing up as a young girl in Kansas, I never liked secrets. First of all it’s too hard to promise that you won’t tell others. Just trying to keep my mouth closed was such a hard job. Even as an adult I don’t appreciate people saying don’t tell anyone. If you don’t want me to tell anyone don’t tell me; wrong person. What God has to say that some may call a secret, I’ll gladly spread. He loves us so much and showed us like no other, by allowing His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so we may have eternal life if we profess that belief. Hey everybody, have you heard the news?