And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. Mark 4:11
There is a language I knew as a child that only a few people ever learned, a language that was actually based on a speech impediment of one of our school friends. Those of us who were close to this lad could understand him well, but his speech was totally unintelligible to anyone who had never heard him before. When my oldest sister and I get together, we often slip into this unusual language, to amuse and confuse those around us. Listeners have no idea what we are talking about, or why we are enjoying a good laugh. We are like those Jesus was speaking about in today’s text, those to whom were given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.
When you and I were saved, we gained access into an entirely new language, in which we have become more and more skilled as we grow in our knowledge of the Word of God and as we become more and more immersed in the service of our Lord. If you don’t think Christians have a different language from the world, try discussing the Rapture or the difference between grace and mercy with one of your neighbours. Things that are precious and important to us are mysteries to them, just as Jesus said. In reality, we are in a different world from the unsaved around us, and we have an understanding about things that those folks have not a clue about. This is a great privilege, of course, but it is also a great responsibility.
When Jesus told His disciples they had an understanding of things that were a mystery to the world, He was preparing them to go out and preach and teach. He was reminding them that the grasp they had of spiritual truths was not to be kept to themselves but was to be used and shared generously. What our Salvation has brought us into is precious, but it is also to be passed on. Lost sinners cannot understand spiritual truths, but the Word of God and the goodness of God is able to bring them to repentance. Our witness to them can bring them to Christ, and then the mysteries that are now hidden from them can be unveiled to them as well. After all, God does not want His mysteries hidden from His creatures. Neither should we. So we need to bring the Gospel message before the lost, just as the Lord had people bring His message to us.
The mysteries that God has opened up to us are only for the redeemed. But they are not limited to those who are redeemed today. May we be willing to be used of God to help bring more sinners into blessings of His redemption and into the understanding of His mysteries. -Jim MacIntosh