The Secret Things

THE SECRET THINGS

Read Deuteronomy 29:1-29

The secret things belong to the Lord. Deuteronomy 29:29

As a follow-up to yesterday’s devotion on Deuteronomy 18:15-22, we turn today to Moses’ statement on Deuteronomy 29:29. Most Christians don’t see Moses as a prophet, but in fact he is considered the first of all the prophets (Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22). The “school of the prophets” began with Moses, the lawgiver.

These secret things (literally “hidden things”) are to be interpreted in the context of this chapter: the renewal of God’s Covenant with the second generation of exodus Israel, about to enter the Promised Land. The question would be asked: “Why would God destroy His people in His anger” (v. 24). And the answer would be, “Because the Church did not keep God’s Covenant––neither they nor their children” (vv. 25-28). So the implication is: If we teach our children to obey the secret things God reveals to us, all will be well for them.

These secret things the New Testament calls musterion, Greek for the word “mystery.” These are not mysteries that men can figure out with clues, scientific evidence or logical investigation. These mysteries must be revealed because mankind would never know them or believe them unless God revealed such divine truths (see First Corinthians 2:1-16).

In fact, all the cardinal doctrines of our “most holy religion” are divine mysteries revealed: The articles of the Apostle’s Creed. That God creates everything––visible and invisible––out of nothing, by His Word, in six days; a virgin birth; a God-man who is God in flesh; an execution that atones for the world’s sin; a resurrection; a second coming; one God in three persons; the Spirit of God in man; a religious group (the Church) that is the Body of Christ on earth; justification and forgiveness by faith; the Gospel; resurrection; heaven (and hell)––none of these things make sense to man, but they are true, real and pertinent.

Ours is an age and a church that doesn’t do what doesn’t make sense to them. Reason cancels out revelation; probability overrides promise, and pragmatism trumps principle. Tithe to the church? Why that makes no financial sense at all in an age of recession and volatile stock markets! Believe in creationism and not evolution? Why all the scientists and school teachers say otherwise! Keep the Sabbath holy? I’ve only got one day a week to really have fun so why waste it in church? No one believes all this stuff anyway…anymore!

God does. And He has let us in on these secret things: the promises, principles, precepts and practices of Covenant living. These things have been told to us by the prophets for the benefit of nation, church and children. Obedience to them guarantees a long and blessed life in the land God gave to us.

I once was invited to a function at the Billy Graham Library where Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were on the rostrum. Mr. Bush leaned over and whispered something in Billy Graham’s ear that made the aging evangelist smile. I said to myself, “Boy! I’d like to be in on those secrets!” In fact, One greater than the President of the United States has spoken His secrets to those of us less impressive than the world’s greatest evangelist. Are we listening? And are we telling these things to our children? God gives us express permission to tell these secrets to our kids and grandkids. Let’s do so…for their blessed future.

PRAYING FOR THE PCA

CEP: Pray for Dennis Bennett as he oversees the training for the denomination in areas of Equip Conferences, Regional Trainers, Presbytery Reps, Distance Education, Church Based Ordination and so forth.

CC: Our adult degree completion programs in organizational management and early childhood education continue to touch the lives of students returning to the classroom while maintaining a life in the work world. These adult students are influenced significantly by the college and have a significant impact in their workplaces. Please pray for our continued influence in this area.

MNA: Pray that God will call courageous, believing, risk-taking and faithful men who will plant churches and lead in the development of other new ministries in communities of need.

PCAF: Pray that the PCA Foundation’s report to General Assembly will be informative and that Commissioners will be supportive of our ministry through prayer and encouraging words, and that they will make wise decisions concerning the PCAF’s business.

RH: Give thanks with us for the financial “turn around” experienced since the summer of 2008. God worked His grace doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think!