Don't let frustration over God's secret things cause you to miss the truth He's given you.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)
The secret things belong to the LORD our God,
but the things revealed
belong to us and to our children forever,
that we may follow all the words of this law.
Canons of Dordt
Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election
Articles 1-11
Article 13 & 14 - The Fruit of Our Assurance
In their awareness and assurance of this election,
God’s children daily find greater cause to humble themselves before God,
to adore the fathomless depth of God’s mercies,
to cleanse themselves,
and to give fervent love in return to the One who first so greatly loved them.
This is far from saying that this teaching concerning election, and reflection upon it,
make God’s children lax in observing his commandments or carnally self-assured.
By God’s just judgment this does usually happen to those who casually take for granted the grace of election or engage in idle and brazen talk about it but are unwilling to walk in the ways of the chosen.
By God’s wise plan,
this teaching concerning divine election was proclaimed through the prophets, Christ himself, and the apostles, in Old and New Testament times.
It was subsequently committed to writing in the Holy Scriptures.
So also today in God’s church,
for which it was specifically intended,
this teaching must be set forth with a spirit of discretion, in a godly and holy manner, at the appropriate time and place, without inquisitive searching into the ways of the Most High.
This must be done for the glory of God’s most holy name, and for the lively comfort of God’s people.
Summary
Chances are that you zeroed in on just one phrase from today's short passage: the secret things. That phrase probably doesn't sit well with you since you live in a world where openness and transparency are the expectation, and secrecy is associated with scandal and coverup.
As we work through the Canons this year, our focus is on the tremendous benefit we gain from their doctrines as we come to understand that God's grace is stronger than we are. Scripture has already demonstrated beyond doubt that God unconditionally chose you out of sin and misery to be redeemed and made new by the blood of Christ, and because this choice was made by an immutable, sovereign God, you can be absolutely certain nothing can ever change it. Praise God!
Maybe even as we're just beginning our journey you've already wondered why so few Christians talk about these concepts that are suddenly bringing you so much comfort and peace. The reason will soon be apparent. We're going to come to the end of the path before we come to the end of our questions, and rather than face this frustration, most people just simply avoid the path.
Scripture never answers one of our most burning questions: why did God chose some but pass over others. That's one of God's secret things. It's not wrong for you to ask the question, but God gently reminds you here not to expect an answer. After struggling through these very same questions, John Calvin, whose name is associated with these doctrines of grace (not because he invented them, but because he so clearly explains them from scripture) ultimately concluded that
whenever the Lord shuts His mouth, I must desist from my inquiry.
Dig Deeper
If you only zero in on the secret things, you'll end up missing the huge blessing promised in today's verse: that the things revealed belong to us and our children forever! God has made so much known to us, first of all in His creation - by studying the amazing order and intricate design of the universe He spoke into being, we learn so much about its creator. But God has revealed Himself much more clearly in His Word, through which we read of our salvation that comes by grace alone, through faith alone, and because of Christ alone.
All of this revelation belongs to you! Take ownership of it! Learn to dig into it and do the hard work of understanding what God is saying and why what He says is so important. Apply its truth to every aspect of your life. Teach it to your children - it belongs to them too!
But notice that this knowledge is given to you with one specific purpose: so that you may follow all the words of God's Law. God doesn't reveal Himself to you so that you can have a slightly nuanced understanding of the world around you. He intends that this information He gives to you should shape and guide every aspect of your life, and that it should especially lead you to salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, to whom the secret things belong;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that having received God's revealed truth that you would follow all the words of His Law;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Galatians 5
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