I've been asked, either through posts or in conversation, why I'm bothering to think about some of the things I'm working through here. That's a very valid question. For years, I've thought it's a waste of time to think about the things I'm posting! So do I just have a lot of time to waste now? Absolutely not - as I type, I'm constantly checking the clock because one of my two small children is bound to wake up soon! I'm thinking through these things now because I've realized it is essential, it is important, and it is biblical. Someone (Mark Talbot) much smarter than I explained it this way: Why do we study the deep questions about God?
(1) Because we're commanded to love God with our whole mind, and this is the greatest commandment ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind . . . " - Luke 10:27).
(2) We are told to search for knowledge, wisdom, understanding. Prov. 2:2-4 - ". . . turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." All of the phrases used here, in relation to wisdom - turn your ear, apply your heart, call out, cry aloud, look, search - all imply an active search for knowledge and understanding about God. If you look at Job 28:1-11, it explains how hard it is to search for silver - man searches in the farthest recesses, in the balckest darkness, far from where people dwell, in places forgotten by the foot of man . . . man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains . . .. THIS is the way we are to go about seeking wisdom and understanding, knowledge of God!
(3) God wants us to understand Him so we can give Him adequate glory.
That last point is the crux, really. If I'm seeking God and asking questions just to acquire knowledge, I'm missing God and puffing myself up. BUT - if I am seeking God so that I can give Him adequate glory, that glorifies God! Want to know the exciting thing? The more I learn about God and learn about what the Bible says about how He works and who He is, the more I want to just drop to my knees and worship Him. If I ever reach the point where I don't have that reaction, I'll stop asking questions. And if I ever get to the point where I think I fully know and understand God, I'll stop asking questions and repent! But, for right now, I feel closer to God than I ever have, and I feel more excited than ever before to tell other people about Him because He is real and He is so much more powerful than I am! So, for now, I think I'll keep asking these questions - and keep digging and searching for understanding.
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