When we are haunted by the unsolvable mysteries of life, when answers to the mysteries found in God’s Word seem so elusive, we must remind ourselves of God’s great declaration: “… my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8)

What teacher or parent cannot tell you of a persistent child from whom flows an everlasting stream of questions.  Although annoying, we love the fact that he or she has an insatiable curiosity for knowledge.  We sometimes limit the questions to preserve our own sanity.  However, a patient attempt to answer the questions is a great benefit in the development of the child.

Some of us carry that child-like curiosity into our adult life and are haunted by the unsolved mysteries of life.  We often find ourselves spending too much time searching for missing pieces to a complex puzzle.  We exhibit a personality type that desires for all things to be known and well-ordered.  It is a struggle to conclude that some mysteries are not meant to be solved, that some of the missing pieces may never be found.  

Have we not all struggled with the greater philosophical questions of life?  Who am I?  What is my purpose in life?  Does God exist?  Is there life after death?  Do we really have free will? From what or whom did I originate?

Especially intriguing are the mysteries in the Bible.  Men have sought to solve them for thousands of years.  Many of these mysteries remain unsolved and we want to resist the fact that we may never complete the puzzle.

Consider the following:

The Mysteries of Genesis

   1. Creation ‘ex nihilo’

How could God create all things and living beings out of nothing? Were He to collect the necessary creative materials within Himself, would He not be positioning Himself within a world of time, space, and matter?  He is transcendent beyond such a world.  Were He to collect creation materials from without Himself, then He ceases to become sole creator of all things.  

Creating ‘ex nihilo’ seems an impossibility but “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

   2. What happened to the Garden of Eden?

After Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, a cherubim was posted at the entrance to prevent any trespass.   God “drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.” – (Genesis 3:24)

The Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is located in Jefferson County, Missouri, near the city of Independence.  

Christopher Columbus explored the “Orinoco River of Venezuela and, given its scope, he soon realized he had stumbled upon another continent. Columbus, a deeply religious man, decided after careful thought that Venezuela was the outer regions of the Garden of Eden.”

With all the modern technology and satellite imagery, we might conclude that the Garden of Eden no longer exists. 

   3. Who were the giants mentioned in Genesis?

“The Nephilim, (fallen ones or giants) were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.”  (Genesis 6:4)

Some believe these were physical giants that dwelt on the earth.  Some say they were fallen angels.  Others hold the belief that they were the most degenerate of the human race, monstrously cruel creatures of lust.  Perhaps they were actually the sons of Cain, the fallen son of Adam in contrast to the “sons of God” who would be the descendants of Adam’s other son, Seth?

   4.  Who was Melchizedek and where did he come from?

After Abram had won a battle against the Chedorlaomer, the King of Edom, and had rescued Lot and all those taken captive, he was approached by a mystery-man, Melchizedek, King of Salem.  Melchizedek was likely a  Gentile and yet he was referred to as a “High Priest of the Most High God”.  (Genesis 14:18)

The author of Hebrews deepens the mystery indicating that Melchizedek was  “Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:3)

Did Melchizedek actually have no parents or does this verse simply mean that his parents were unknown?  Was it necessary to clothe this figure in mystery to portray him as one who foreshadowed Christ himself?  

Mysteries of Theology

1.  The Trinity

Christians believe that God has existed eternally, having no beginning nor end.  His essence is revealed in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  He is not one entity that can be divided as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He is one entity that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  To declare that the Trinity is one God and that this one God is three persons may seem confusing to many.  However, it is not a contradiction, it is a divine mystery.

•  The Hypostatic Union

This is a crucial Christian doctrine that declares that Christ is both fully human and fully divine.  He is not 50/50, he is 100% human and 100% divine.  There is not a divine Christ and a human Christ.  There is one Christ.  He has two natures, one divine and one human.  This is not a formal contraction.  This is a truth that presents itself as a mystery.

• How can we reconcile God’s sovereignty with man’s responsibility?

It would be heretical to question God’s sovereignty.  “Our God is in heaven

and does whatever he pleases.”  (Psalm 115:3)  Our God is omniscient and receives advice from no one.  He never consults nor seeks counsel.  “Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who gave him counsel?” (Isaiah 40:13)

God is supreme in all his authority and power and has total control over the actions of all men.  Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch Reformed theologian was referring to God’s ultimate sovereignty when he declared “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”.  

The Bible also teaches the responsibility of man for his sin.  Mankind is held fully accountable for all their actions.  Those who have chosen to reject a holy God and have lived a life of wilful disobedience will be held responsible for their actions and decisions. Joshua admonished his followers to “choose life so that you and your descendants may live.”  (Deuteronomy 30:19) Jesus lamented the refusal of those in Jerusalem who refused to receive his invitation to truth: “ How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) 

There will be a final day when our righteous God will judge the deeds and behavior of all men.

Reconciling sovereignty and the responsibility of man seems to be an unsolvable dilemma.  It is not a contradiction.  It is a truth shrouded in mystery.

Conclusion

We must not allow the unexplained mysteries to diminish our faith in God.  Can a holy God create evil or hell?  Who tempted Lucifer to sin?  Who can explain the virgin birth, resurrection and miracles of Christ?

Why do some survive cancer and others don’t?  Why does death snatch away those who are too young?  Why is death able to claim so many before they escape the birth canal?  Why are some born to privilege and others to destitution?

We must accept that “the hidden things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29) and we must trust that he has good reason to keep them hidden from us.  Jesus offered comfort to his followers who were feeling anxious about the things they could not know:  “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.”  (John 16:12)

There is hope that one day we will understand those things which do so completely mystify us.  “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)  

“Trusting in Jesus today and in all the tomorrows brings assurance that He has answers for every mystery, and they are all according to His will.” – Billy Graham