Someday, We'll Know...

Recently, amid the current surge of tragedy, I've reflected: lot of life doesn't make sense. And for good reason: much of life lately has been angst, scramble, and fury, with little explanation, filled with upending mystery. 

But it occurred to me, that's there another way to 'ramp-up' to the mystery and fury of life.  We can also speak of that day, when we will know -- when the pieces do fall together -- and we do finally understand the "why" of life.

Clues appear on a variety of days, but the definitive day occurs when those in Christ transition beyond human time into God's eternity.  Paul affirms this prospect in graphic fashion in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “At present, we are [persons] looking at puzzling reflections in a mirror. The time will come when we shall see reality whole and face-to-face! At present all I know is a . . . fraction of the truth, but the time will come when I shall know it as fully as God now knows me!” (PHILLIPS).

I long for such comprehension.  Don't you? 

As I anticipate that opportunity, I imagine myself huddling with the Master of the Universe, asking the same question over and over, “why?” 

• Why did my mother die so young and suddenly? 
• Why wasn’t my vocational path more even and complete? 
• Why did my bad neighbor prosper and my good friend flounder? 
• Why didn’t You answer my prayer/s when I was sinking low? 
• Why was the arrogant politician elected over the more righteous choice?  

Why? Why? Why? 

And then a glorious thing will happen: rather than the delay, absence, or silence I’ve experienced from God so often, the Creator will be open to communicate and give "rationale" for the questions and mysteries of life.

Now, mind you, I won't like some of God's rationale, particularly as He reminds me of His love of paradox/irony, His view of suffering as a redemptive resource, along with His tendency, at times, to let the earthly outcomes of my actions, run their course. 

But whether to my liking or offense, God’s rationale will be clear and arresting, prompting a repetitive (though at times reluctant) response: “Okay, I hear You. Now I understand.” For in God’s good time, we do understand, that God is involved all the time, in all of life. For the psalmist reminds us: “my times are in [God’s] hands” (Psa 31:15).

Largely, however, we’re not aware of God’s habitual presence. But if we’re observant now, and certainly in eternity, we realize that God, though not always apparent and visible, has, nevertheless, been vigilant.

As Rich Mouw concluded his career as the president of Fuller Seminary, he accented this theme in a farewell sermon, using a reoccurring phrase to accent God’s faithfulness, despite apparent neglect: “It’s Him Again.”

"In Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, there’s a series of murders in the village, and the local constable looks at the fourth of those murders and says there is no connection between this one and the previous murders—there just happened to have been several unrelated homicides within a single month . . . But Miss Marple, noticing something hanging on the wall and remembering something the butler said, points out: “No, no, no, it’s him again.” 

Our growth in Christ . . . means learning to read the clues in the manner of Miss Marple, and even more importantly in the manner of God’s people in God’s redemptive story . . . The last time the unbelieving world saw Jesus of Nazareth, he was . . . hanging dead and defeated on a Roman cross . . . But for those of us who encounter that scene with the eyes and ears of faith we say, “No, no, no, it’s Him again.” . . . There will come a day, the Apostle John tells . . . when someone will appear in the clouds and every eye will see him. [And] on that occasion [we will once again respond] “It’s Him again.” . . . Many of you face uncertainties, difficulties, trials, and challenges, but I hope you experience a reassuring presence . . . and sensing that presence . . . [will be able to say] in deep places of your being, “It’s Him again."

Recently, I've attempted to see God in all of life.  You know, times when I thought God was absent, but when God was present, nevertheless.  For example, I recalled my college girlfriend and first fiancee, who I concluded was to be my spouse.  But then she broke up with me, and I was convinced God had not abandoned me.  But now as I reflect on 41 years of incredible marriage with Robin (my wife), I now see God even in dissolution of my collegiate relationship.  It's Him again!  Or, I think of the difficulty of leaving full-time pastoral ministry, and the lack of clarity about a foreseeable future, wondering, where is the guidance of God? But now as I look back over the last five years of remarkable ministry opportunity, it's crystal clear God has guided graciously, generously. "It's Him Again!" 

Such presence and reality reminds me of a popular Christian musical piece by Larnelle Harris entitled: "You Were In It All After all."

"So You were in it after all

All of those moments I spent crying

When something inside of me was dying

I didn't know that You heard me

Each time I called 

You had a reason for those trials

It seems I grew stronger every mile

Now I know You were in it after all

 

We're always ready Lord to take the glory

But we're seldom willing to endure the pain

You were with me when the sun was shining,

And You were still beside me when it rained

 

So You were in it after all

Taking the blows that I'd been given

Mending the wounds that needed mending

I didn't know that You heard me each time I called

I guess it's easy now to see it,

I don't know how I could have missed it Jesus

But You were in it after all..."

Yes, someday, we'll see that God was "in it after all"; not part of life, but all of life. For some day, as we time-travel with God, God will pull back the curtain on God’s activity and rationale. Finally, mysteries will be solved, and we'll begin to understand, as God understands.  

Again, we won't necessarily like some of God's rationale or actions, but we'll come, at least reluctantly, into an acceptance of God's way and wisdom, understanding more fully a classic text: 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9, NRSV)

But be assured: whether conforming to our specifications or not, God's way and thought is nevertheless benevolent and redemptive, working all things into a pattern for good (Romans 8:28, PHILLPS). 

And so, in the end, Paul's doxology will be our doxology, resounding from our lips with contrition, amazement, confession, and devotion:

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20, NET)