“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven – what can you do? Deeper than Sheol – what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.” Job 11:7-9

I have always been a lover of mysteries, whether it is in books, movies, or the unsolved events of history. On my bookshelf I have a large volume of the entire Sherlock Holmes stories from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was probably one of the most enjoyable reads I’ve had in a long time. The Aha moments that you get when you’ve figured out the mystery are awesome and exciting but that is just a singular moment that is fleeting. Once you have it, the mystery is done. You cannot relive the experience of finding out the mystery because you have been enlightened to the truth of the situation; you know what is going on.  But for me what really makes me love a mystery is not the Aha moment, but the pursuit of it. The finding, studying and contemplation of the facts, hints, and clues that gradually lead one to a greater understanding of what is going on. The diligent search for answers. To me the longer it takes me to figure out what is happening or who the murderer is, the better the story. When I know what to anticipate I become bored.

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” Proverbs 25:2

One of the attributes of God’s nature is that He is incomprehensible. This means that we cannot fully understand God. No matter how hard one studies the scriptures, no matter how deep one goes in their relationship with Him, even if one were to go to heaven and spend the rest of eternity directly in the Presence of God; they would never reach a full understanding of who God is. Some may mistakenly believe that once they arrive in heaven they will know everything but this is not true, at least not for knowing God. Even then He will still be too great for us to comprehend; due to Him being a greater being than we are. God is God and we will always be the created, not the Creator. We are beings with a finite mind trying to understand an infinite God. He is infinite in power, knowledge, love, and wisdom. And although we can never reach that full understanding of Him, God still desires for us to pursue that knowledge.

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

Some seek to understand God to explain or defend His words and deeds. I have noticed these people tend to struggle with knowing who God is because God will not explain Himself to them, for God is not subject to man that He should have to explain Himself or require one of us to explain Him. I thank God for giving me this love for mystery. This is because in Him I have a mystery so great and deep that I can constantly, for the rest of my life and into eternity, pursue the knowledge of God and actually acquire understanding and those Aha moments without ever fully reaching the end of the mystery. While some frustrate themselves trying to figure God out so they can put Him in a box, I can relax and pursue Him for the pure enjoyment of the pursuit and for the love of whom He is. And I have found that He willingly teaches me about who He is when I have pure intentions in my pursuit. And when I find something that I don’t understand about Him, I don’t worry. I just ask the Lord to tell me about Himself and while I wait for Him I practice my faith by trusting Him for who I already know Him to be. Which is always loving, unchanging, showering us with mercy and grace, slow to anger, and full of compassion, joy and creative power.

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” Galatians 4:8

And unlike the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, when I receive the Aha moments the mystery isn’t completely solved. On the contrary, every Aha moment enhances the enjoyment of pursuing Him. No matter how much I learn He is always able to keep me guessing, throwing in all kinds of unexpected plot twists and surprising me with His grace.

And with each revelation concerning His nature, I receive understanding as well as freedom from deception and bondage. Like many others I use to struggle with seeing God as unmoving and unemotional, ready to judge me for my sins. Until I stumbled upon the truth that God is joyous and my view of Him changed radically but it also changed me. Since then I have felt more confident in the truth that I am forgiven and that He loves me, that I am beautifully and wonderfully made and can relax and not take myself so seriously. Knowing that He is joyful has opened up the door for me to be more joyful.

Ultimately I believe that if we are to succeed at walking with God as Enoch did that we must learn to enjoy the walk itself. Instead of wanting to rush ahead to the end of the road, maybe we should just focus our attention on Christ as we walk with Him. We’ll reach the end eventually, so let us get to know Him the best we can along the way. Let’s learn to love the mysteries of God.

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and  righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24