Was I Ever Lucky!
(By: Mike King)
A very amusing, but provocative, illustration appeared in a publication by Alan Smith recently. He told of a man who had just filled his car with gas at a self-service station. He had paid for his gas and driven away only to realize that he had failed to put his gas cap back on, but had left it on top of his car. When he stopped, he found it gone just as he had expected.
In seeking a solution, he reasoned that if he would do that, others must have done the same thing. He returned to the spot where it most likely would have fallen, thinking he might find one someone else had lost that might fit, if not his. Just as he had hoped, following a brief search, he found a gas cap. He wiped it off and slipped it on with a satisfying click.
He told his wife as he climbed back into the car, "I may have lost my gas cap, but I found another one that fits and it's even a better cap than the one I had -- it locks...!" It was not until he was bragging about his find that he realized it was not such a good deal after all; an expensive gas cap without a key is not a valuable thing to have! Thus it is with acquiring an understanding of the Bible. Jesus taught in parables, and His apostles came to Him for explanations. They were seeking the "key" to understanding what they were hearing. He said, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God" (Mk. 4:11).
Confusion has characterized the mind-set of multitudes throughout history as God has spoken to mankind. There was a struggle with the prophets foretelling of the coming of Christ. They just could not grasp the concept ( 1 Pet. 1:10-12). His ministry was often referred to as a "mystery." Paul spoke of the "Mystery of the gospel" (Eph. 6:19) and the "mystery of Christ" (Col. 4:3), or simply "the mystery" (Eph. 3:9). The general populace of that day had access to a great "product," but could not access it without the "key." That Word had to be taught and understood before it could be of any value to them. It was a "good deal" but of no value. We understand more than those previous generations or even the angels of heaven. We understand the beauty and significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We must give thanks because "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations...has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:26-27).
Keep the Faith! ~~ Joe
