What’s God’s Secret?
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
If you were a Beatles fan, you might remember a popular song, “Do You Want to Know a Secret”, and in the lyrics, repeated, are “I am in love with you.” That is God’s answer to everyone who wants to know about Him and how He feels about “you”. But it really is no secret because from the time you were born, He’s been wooing you to Himself.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”Romans 1:20
“The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” Deuteronomy 29:29
The things of God are only hidden to those who deny His existence and refuse to believe His Words.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 10:12, Matthew 13: 54-58, 2 Corinthians 4:4)
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
It was during the time my father developed lung cancer that I understood the bondage of “unbelief”. He was a self-made man who was self-sufficient in many aspects, boasting agnosticism. But with this disease, he began to look outside himself. The cancer had spread to his bones and he was in pain. During the summer before he passed away, I went over to his home to help with giving morphine injections and to keep him company in his isolation. It was on one of these occasions while I sat with him in his study, I witnessed God speaking to him in a unique way. My father would have the habit of suddenly dozing off, with mouth wide open to breathe. On this particular day, when he dozed off he awoke with something to say. He began describing what he saw while he was asleep; “There is this man who is imprisoned in his home. There are bars on the windows and locks on the door. He cannot leave because he refuses to believe. Why will he not believe? He then nodded off asleep again in the same way. When he awoke, he said. “The man who was imprisoned is out side walking away.”
I knew the Lord was speaking to my father concerning his unbelief. He’d become a prisoner of himself, and the only way he could be set free was to believe. Those in our family who were Christians tried to witness Christ and His salvation, but dad would just argue with us. But through God’s mercy and grace God reached my dad by sending a hospice nurse who was relentless in telling my dad the consequences of sin and Christ’s salvation.
The last part of dad’s dream became a reality when he confessed his sin and accepted Jesus Christ as His personal Savior. My father repented, believed and was set-free, no longer believing in himself, but in His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The man he saw in his dream walking outside of his house of barred windows and locked doors, was “he”, the man who believed and was set free!
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Thousands of years prior to the appearance of Jesus Christ, God revealed His thoughts and ways through prophets (Isaiah 53, Luke 24). God was then manifested in the flesh through His Son. Jesus Christ. All who were present during the appearance of Jesus Christ witnessed His divine nature and unconditional love. It was impossible for them to keep it a secret, but let it be known. And to this day, this Word has gone throughout the world. (Matthew 24:14)
“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.
He is the Word of life.” 1 John 1:1
When Jesus died, was resurrected and then later ascended into Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit into the heart of all who believe. In this, the believer develops the mind of Christ, whereby He can understand spiritual things. (1 Corinthians 2:9-15)
The Holy Spirit reveals whatever the Lord wants the believer to know. Where once, He spoke through the prophets, and then His Son, God is now speaking through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit according to His living and written Word.
(1 John 2:27, Psalm 119:150, John 1)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
When Jesus was with His disciples He taught them all they needed to know and promised He would continue to teach them through the gift of His Holy Spirit. He explained to them He had much more to say, but they could not bear it, presently.
(John 16: 12-15)
The Holy Spirit makes known only what comes from Jesus Christ and shares it with all who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior:
John 16:12-15
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
The believer in Christ Jesus knows not to rely on what seems right or logical in this world, but to listen for the wisdom from above, imparted by the person of God’s Holy Spirit.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
Scriptures reveal, “the heart of man is deceitful above all things”, and it is futile to rely on one’s own logic, reasoning or emotions.
(Proverbs 3: 5-6, James 3:17, Jeremiah 17:9)
In contrast, those who are not in Christ rely upon the wisdom of others and themselves. In Oprah Winfrey’s book- The Wisdom of Sundays she says the following:
“Whenever I have felt most tested, lost or unsure of my own direction, these words from “Invictus” that I memorized at eight years old have been a way forward.” Oprah –
The Wisdom of Sundays- “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
When my father was in pain, dying from lung and then bone cancer, he discovered right away he was not the master of his fate and was approaching death and was about to lose his soul.
It appears, Winfrey does not rely on the God in the Bible, but rather creates her own wisdom, stating, clearly, over and over again in her writings, her reliance on the wisdom of others, and unknown spiritual forces she can not define. Winfrey has embraced the New Age religion whereby there is no consequences for sin, and has embraced herself as her own god. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Within this poem which Winfrey quotes by William Ernest Henley, it speaks of strength not coming from God but unknown gods:
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.”
The world’s standard for success is wealth, fame and power. There are no moral standards but only ambition and self-reliance in this philosophy. The philosophy is this: “The end justifies the means”. God’s law is ignored, while the pursuit of accomplishing one’s own goals according to one’s own moral compass appears to be a “good” thing to one’s own ideology or philosophical endeavor.
When Democratic Senator Harry Reid lied about Mitt Romney’s taxes, saying he didn’t pay them, he admitted he did it because it accomplished the purpose of keeping Romney from being elected. He believed Republican Romney was the wrong choice for president, and so in order to prevent him from being elected, he lied about his taxes. When he was asked about why he did this, he said, “He wasn’t elected, was he?”
The Word of God says, in order to gain life you must be willing to let go of your own motivation and selfish ambition for Christ’s sake. Mark 8:34-35
Jesus said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Mark 8:36-37
What is God’s purpose for creating mankind? He created mankind for the purpose of having an intimate relationship with Himself, while conforming mankind into His likeness. (Genesis 1:26, John 17: 20-23, Romans 8:29, John 15)
Jesus Said: “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Vs. 21
So, what is the secret and absolute truth to an abundant life which guarantees also eternal life with God? It is not found in any New Age religion, philosophy or any science created by man, but rather, in the unalterable inerrant Word of God written to convey the message of Truth to all who are seeking after God and not themselves.
Jesus said, “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3:16
There are not many ways but only one way to know the Truth. God came in the flesh through His Son, Jesus Christ to reveal the truth concerning Himself and eternal life. His Word is Truth. That which was spoken was also written for us in these last days.
(John 1, John 14: 6, Proverbs 14:12, 1 Corinthians 10:11, John 17:17)
“There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
New Age philosophy such as the popular book “the Secret”, and all other religions whereby one has to earn their way to heaven, focus on finding the “god”of self, promising happiness, power and wealth centers on good works (self-sacrifice), possessing the things of this world and finding peace through occupation of self or other gods. But in the process of finding oneself, you also come to the end of yourself, left “by yourself”.
“It is when we seek after God we discover who we are in Christ and His unconditional love.” DF
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:31
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7-8
Satan tried to tempt Jesus to gain the whole world by worshiping him. He also tried to tempt Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by performing miracles. With every temptation Jesus quoted God’s Word on the subject. (Matthew 4: 1-11)
Jesus came as a servant, even though He was God in the flesh, and came to lose His life in this world for our sake. God promised a Savior who would take on Himself the sins of the world and give everyone the opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness and eternal life. (Philippians 2:7, John 3:16)
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
In these last days there will be many who will promise the world to those who follow them. They make merchandise of their followers, while their wealth increases. But their path is the way of self-destruction and anything gained by the quest will also be destroyed.
(Matthew 24: 1-8, Matthew 6:20, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Corinthians 4:18)
Jesus who was perfect and knew no sin, sacrificed His life and took on the punishment of our sins. When He was dying on the cross from the crucifixion, He prayed we would be forgiven. God has answered His prayer. After three days in the grave, Jesus was resurrected. He spent forty days with His disciples teaching them His Word, and His Word is going throughout the world. And on the day when His disciples were gathered together awaiting God’s commission to witness this Truth, He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell with them and in them giving them the power to witness His name throughout the whole earth. And all who believe, have Christ’s Holy Spirit and their salvation is sealed
( Luke 24, Acts 2, Ephesians 1:13)
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1: 13-14
Therefore, anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and repents of their sin, believing also in His resurrection loses this transient world but gains eternal life in God’s Kingdom. (Romans 10: 8-10)
The thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus recognized his sin and at the same time recognized Jesus as his Savior. Therefore, Jesus promised the repentant thief eternal life.
(Luke 23: 40-43)
There are ways that seem right but they all end in eternal death and separation from God where there is no escape from eternal judgment. New Age doctrine, and philosophies, false religions, do not mention sin or mention a God who judges sin. But there is a day of judgment when God will judge everyone individually.
Jesus’ prayer was for all to be forgiven who call upon His name. And all who believe in Him have passed from death to life.
(Leviticus 5:17. Luke 23:24, Romans 10:12-13, 1 John 3:14, Hebrews 9: 26-28)
God has provided the only way through His Son, Jesus Christ. He has promised eternal life and all who receive Him have His Spirit and the abundant life which produces the fruit of joy beyond anything this world can offer.
(Proverbs 14:12, John 10:10, John 14:6, Psalm 16:11, John 15:11)
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Isaiah 1:18
The Secret of Obtaining this World while losing Your Soul
Oprah Winfrey’s Words (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“The meaning of wisdom for me is recognizing the moment when what you know aligns perfectly with what you feel.” The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey, p.80
Question Concerning Winfrey’s quote: Aren’t we limited as to what we know?
God’s Word:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
James 3:17
Winfrey’s Words (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“Emotional guidance system lets you know the direction to take.”
Question Concerning Winfrey’s quote: Can anyone truly rely on their emotions to lead them in the right direction?
God’s Word:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight”. Proverbs 3:5-6
Winfrey’s Words: (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“Each quote you read in the following pages offers a different tool or real-life experience intended to help you tune in more sharply to what your spirit, your GPS, is trying to tell you.”
God’s Words:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3
Winfrey’s Words: (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“Every right decision I’ve ever made has come from listening to my gut. Every wrong decision was a result of me dismissing the small, still voice within me.” Oprah (80)
God’s Words:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight”. Proverbs 3:5-6
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12
Winfrey’s Words: (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“Your real purpose on Earth is to become more of who you really are-to live to the highest degree what is pure, what is honest, what is natural, what feels like the real you. Oprah (81)
God’s Word:
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
See –Knowing Jesus
Winfrey’s Words: (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“You’ll know you’ve found it when every cell in your body vibrates with your own truth.” Oprah (p.80)
God’s Words:
Jesus Said: I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Jesus Said: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
My Comment: Truth is not Truth if it accommodates itself. There can not be many truths or it is not the Truth. There is only one answer to the source of life, just like you were not born from many mothers, but one, you were created by One creator – Jesus Christ ( Genesis 1, John 1)
See – What is Truth?
Winfrey’s Words: (From the Wisdom of Sundays)
“Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom unfolds.” Oprah (81)
God’S Word:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight”. Proverbs 3:5-6
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17
God’s Secret
Revealed
