United Church of God

Treasure Digest: Dark Glasses

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Treasure Digest

Dark Glasses

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Jesus Christ was a ray of light that shone into a darkened world. The world did not recognize or know Him (John 1:10 John 1:10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
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), and they killed Him (Acts 2:22-23 Acts 2:22-23 [22] You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the middle of you, as you yourselves also know: [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
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). They did not have the eyes to see. In fact, that is the human condition—blinded to the spiritual reality. And even when God opens our minds and eyes through His Spirit, our vision is limited.

God's Word is full of spiritual mysteries. We can wonder how a spirit being can become flesh (John 1:14 John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
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). We can ponder the deep revelations that God gives regarding Christ. For example, God was in Christ to such an extent that when asked to "show us the Father," Jesus could say, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?" (John 14:7-9 John 14:7-9 [7] If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him. [8] Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffises us. [9] Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?
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). How could He say that and how do we understand that?

Of course, we rationalize, think, search the Scriptures and come up with an answer. We have to—our ego finds it hard to allow us to say, "I really don't know." Our answers may even be very good answers and contain much truth, but not all the truth, not 100 percent understanding. An honest scholar will admit that he sees dimly, through a dark glass. Paul admitted that (1 Corinthians 13:12 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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). One of the greatest writers and apostles of God was not too proud to be totally honest.

Admitting that we do not know as we ought to know is a huge step towards understanding (1 Corinthians 8:2 1 Corinthians 8:2And if any man think that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
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).

If we fight our carnal minds and reach for things spiritual, we will one day see clearly. No more dark glasses (1 Corinthians 13:12 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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; 1 John 3:2 1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
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)!