In our communications with one another, the use of words is certainly invaluable. It would hardly be imaginable to try to exist without them.

Still and all, words are often proven inadequate at conveying those things that are beyond words, especially things that are spiritual.

In attempting to convey depths of grief or heights of joy, for example, the degrees of such things cannot be fully understood without the experience itself, although we understand what both grief and joy are.

That is why it has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The most impactful things in our lives are not merely words, but things that we see and experience. Although we do experience some things because of words, the experience itself is greater.

Far greater than a picture or a thousand words is the knowledge opened up to us by the revelation of the creation of God. Not only has God created a universe containing innumerable living and nonliving things, but he has also given us life so that we can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch things that do exist.

Not only so, but we have also been gifted a heart, soul, and mind, through which we can experience things that neither pictures nor words could ever fully express.

Everything God makes has a purpose. Creation was necessary, the world is necessary, and even sin is a necessary evil—that all righteousness might be fulfilled in due season—not that God desired to see evil conceived, but that it might be allowed to sprout and mature for the purpose of destroying it forever once it was seen and judged for what manner of fruit it is.

Therefore, not only were we brought into the world according to the eternal purpose of God, but we were also given the knowledge of God, passed to us through the written word, with the hope of everlasting life.

However, words, being finite in meaning, are limited in imparting truth in its fullness. Therefore, God also sent his spirit to not only reveal the deep things of God in his word but also to give us a more perfect understanding of God through the things that he has created. God speaks through the language of creation.

Solomon wrote that it is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings to search out a matter. Therefore, Solomon taught things as Jesus did, using worldly things in parables and proverbs to convey the spiritual secrets of God.

Indeed, God purposely hides himself so that people might either believe or disbelieve. Just as Jesus said to his disciples, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

Did God then put forth things in parables to see to it that people would not believe and be lost? It is not God’s desire that any should perish but that all men come to repentance.

To the contrary, the people did indeed understand his words in a carnal sense but not in a spiritual sense because they did not want to be converted and give up their worldly lives.

After this, Jesus said to his disciples, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”

Jesus desired for people to believe, but for the right reasons—not just because they ate the loaves of bread and were filled, but because they desired the kingdom of God. Those who followed him to fulfill their earthly desires later fell away. When they did, Jesus said to his disciples, “Will you go away also?” to which Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God.

So then, what we see is that God divides the wheat from the chaff by preaching the gospel in parables. The Word of God is encrypted by the spirit of God, and it can only be deciphered by the spirit. Those who are of the world cannot receive the things of the spirit because they are spiritually discerned. They are foolishness to them. But he who is of God hears God’s voice.

Indeed, Christ did not come to unite the world; he came to divide it. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.”

By speaking parables Jesus separated his people from the multitudes. Those who had the ears to hear came forth and followed the Lord. For the word of God draws those who have a heart for God. They are moved by his spirit and earnestly seek him. They come into a spiritual place that the world cannot know. They understand God, and they understand the world.

However, the world cannot understand them because God’s children live in a secret place that only they can know. Only they can experience this place, and the ungodly cannot perceive that it even exists.

David experienced this place, calling it the “secret place of the Most High.” Speaking in Psalms, David declared, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” As to God giving the revelation of his word, David said, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant.” God hides and keeps secrets. They are not for everybody, but they are for anybody who loves the Lord and seeks him with the whole heart.

Isaiah proclaimed, “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.”