Who Done It?

Everyone likes a good mystery.  Some like mystery movies.  Some like mystery books.  But most people like mysteries of some sort.  Why is that?  Because we are all intrigued with knowing what the mystery is.  You know...Who done it?  Or...Where'd they hide it?  Or...Which one is it?  A mystery is simply information concealed.  Mysteries are like the contents of a treasure box discovered..but yet to be opened.Mysteries present the anticipation of knowing the facts (A.K.A. the truth).  Everyone likes a good mystery...because with it comes the challenge to find out what is concealed.  Once the knowledge of the mystery is gained...it is no longer a mystery!  To everyone else in your world it may remain a mystery, but not to you because you know the truth.  And the truth sets you free.

Jesus said, ""To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables..."  (Mark 4: 11)  What Jesus said to His disciples applies to any follower of Jesus today.  If you are a citizen of His kingdom, He has given to you the knowledge of the mysteries of His kingdom.  Folks who have yet to join the kingdom will have to settle for parables.  He illustrated His point with the parable of the four soils:  roadside, rocky, thorny, and good.  (Mark 4: 14 - 20)  This parable is not about the seed, but the soil.  Jesus used the natural process of planting seeds as a parable to illustrate a kingdom principle:  your heart (soil) is changed, therefore you see things differently when you become a citizen of His kingdom.  To Jesus (and to us) this is the parable of parables.

Jesus also said, ""For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light."  (Mark 4: 22)  This means all the mysteries of the kingdom are meant to revealed.  Just like the writer of the mystery intends for the mystery to be revealed at some point in the book or movie.  Mysteries exist for the purpose of being revealed.  Knowing this give me a greater love for the parable.  The parable is Jesus' way of reaching out to the heart that is lost, hardened, distracted, or simply hungry for Him.  To the unbeliever parables extend the hand of Jesus to their heart.  To the believer parables consistently help to open the eyes of our heart to the purity of God's Word.

We must dig deeper and deeper into God's Word.  It is full of mysteries waiting to be unveiled to your heart.  Mysteries that change you from the inside out.  I simply  love God's Word.  It never gets old to me.  It remains fresh, vibrant, and alive to my spirit, soul, and body as I seek God continually to purify my heart.  How about you?