1 Corinthians 2:9-10: “But as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”
I have agonized over a presentation for work, I was preparing for this past week to a group of Research & Development chemists and Process Engineer, for a company that is a customer of mine. I had been sent twelve preparatory questions to address and answer for this meeting I was asked to conduct and teach. The senior chemist of the department required the whole lab to hear me speak on a very current and vital specific topic involving formulating and producing hair care and skincare products with a particular ingredient. My preparation involved gathering facts of information on the subject I was asked to teach on, and have been trained on, and incorporating this information on my PowerPoint slides. It took considerable time to put together all of my data for my training session, and I was concerned it needed to be just right. I was giving guidance to fortify their understanding of handling a new area in this realm that has great difficulty in incorporating this ingredient into hair and skin care formulations. I was presenting logical, factual, information in this critical area, and I wanted it to be done just right in my delivery. I needed to be prepared for any questions that might arise during my presentation.
Thus, the word “prepared” in 1 Cor. 2:9 caught my attention as I was reading this chapter. Some say that the word “prepared” used in 1 Cor. 2:9 is referencing God has “prepared” Heaven for us that are believers. Paul paraphrases in quoting Isaiah 64:4 regarding Israel in captivity awaiting God’s deliverance: “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those that wait for him.”Paul is applying this reference to the church in 1 Cor. 2:9. Paul is talking about the wisdom God has prepared for believers. God is revealing these things to us here and now as verse 10 says. God’s truth is not discoverable by objective evidence (eyes or ears) nor is it discoverable by rational conclusions. It comes by faith in accepting God’s message of salvation. Our future is secure no matter what our circumstances are which gives us hope. The gospel gives us light, life, and liberty. We as believers will see things and know things others can’t because the Spirit reveals to us the big picture eternally as we read and study His Word. Our minds cannot begin to perceive or comprehend God’s plan for us in His preparation of making us complete in Christ, as the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to understand and obey the message of the gospel and God’s will.
A month from now, the essential powerpoint presentation I taught and agonized over will be in the past tense. It will be behind me and already is. But the wisdom God has for you and for me we cannot see with our human eyes and cannot hear with our ears. Instead, the Spirit reveals it to our mind and heart spiritual truths as we pray to God and as we read His Word. He is preparing us because He loves us. Therefore, every day is a good day – Roman 8:28 is a promise– but I cannot always see it or visualize it, and I don’t always feel like it can be for my good. But I have to remember it is God’s eternal plan. He is my shield of protection and invisible bodyguard. He has the big picture in mind – eternity – and so often I just need to get through today.
How has God been preparing you this past week in deepening your relationship with Him?
What incidents do you now see as not as significant as they first appeared? I am not intending to belittle anything you have been going through. I have been there too, and unpleasant circumstances have seemed to be increasing these past few weeks further challenging me.
What trials have God caused you to be better prepared in an area than before and been wiser for undergoing the situation? What lessons did you learn about faith and trust in the Lord?
The Message states 1 Cor. 2:9-10 this way: “God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes . . . what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene . . . The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along.”
My time spent in preparation for my presentation in my work that I wanted to appear very knowledgeable and wise was a reminder that God is preparing me in ways I don’t even know about or understand. The Holy Spirit will give true wisdom, discernment, instruction, and guidance, as we read the Word of God in order to reach proper conclusions, and make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. There is hope ahead.
Listen to Danny Gokey’s Hope in Front of Me (Official Lyric video) – YouTube. Posted Jan. 23, 2014.