Words are often inadequate to convey the fullness of understanding, particularly of things that are spiritual. Attempting to express depths of grief or heights of joy, for example, cannot match the personal experience, although we understand what they are.

More impactful than words alone are the things that we see, understand, and experience. Although we experience some things because of words, the experience itself is far more profound; the spiritual element speaks more than words can tell.

Greater than words is a revelation. We have been gifted a heart, mind, and body, but even more, an eternal soul, also through which we can experience things beyond words. God is revealed by His Spirit alone—His word is spirit.

Everything God does has its purpose: creation, the world, mankind, and all things visible and invisible. Even the manifestation of sin serves a purpose. To fulfill all righteousness, it was necessary for a time and place for sin to exist for a season. When the fullness of knowledge comes—not that God takes pleasure in evil—the necessity of evil being allowed a time and place will be clearly understood. Afterwards, evil will be completely destroyed forever, and the Lord will embrace his people with an eternal embrace.

The world is the crucible of God, full of good and evil; the separation of the gold from the dross takes place here. Through the fires of experience and flames of temptation, knowledge is manifested, the scriptures are affirmed, and the hope of everlasting life is imparted to those who love God through all things.

God hides Himself to test those whom He has created. They either believe or disbelieve according to the contents of their heart; love has faith. Where there is no faith, there is no love. God shares Himself with those who put their trust in Him. It is a relationship with walls that He builds one brick at a time—“precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10).

Solomon said, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings to search out a matter.” Solomon taught things as Jesus did, in parables, illustrating hidden mysteries that those who seek God might understand.

Jesus told 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 Jesus use parables to create stumbling blocks?

It is not God’s desire that any should perish but that all men come to repentance. The people understood the words of Jesus in a worldly sense, but they would not receive them spiritually because of their selfish desires; belief required them to render their lives to God. They stumbled because they preferred to walk in darkness.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” The heart that is hungry for truth and goodness is open to the word of God. Even when the truth is a difficult mystery, they seek understanding by faith.

Jesus desired for people to believe, but for the right reason, not because they ate the loaves of bread and were filled, but because they hungered for God. Those who follow Christ to fulfill their earthly desires fall away. When the bread is spent, the multitudes depart. Jesus asked his disciples, “Will you go away also?” Peter replied, “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.”

The Lord divides the wheat from the chaff through the preaching of the gospel in parables. The Word of God is encrypted by the Holy Spirit; it is only deciphered by the Holy Spirit. Those who are worldly cannot receive the things of the Spirit. The things of God are foolishness to the worldly minded; they cast them aside. Those who are of God hear His voice.

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

Using parables, Jesus separated his people from the multitudes. Those with ears to hear God come out from the world and follow Him.

The children of God are moved by his Spirit to earnestly seek him. They find a place that the world cannot see or know. It is a relationship that cannot be conveyed by words alone. Those who are of God know Him and receive His testimonies; they understand the whole world lies in darkness.

The world cannot comprehend the Lord’s people because His chosen abide in a secret place. Only God and those who know him know this place; the ungodly cannot perceive its existence.

King David knew the hidden place of a personal relationship with the Lord; he called it the “secret place of the Most High.” David declared, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” And again, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14).

The Lord has given evidence of his existence to all mankind through the witness of his Creation, yet he hides himself in mystery; he keeps secrets—secrets that he desires to freely reveal the knowledge of. His secrets are not for everyone; they are for those who seek Him with their whole heart. To them He will reveal Himself. And they shall dwell in the secret place of the Most High that those outside cannot know. “Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.” (Isaiah 45:15).