December brought record-breaking warm temperatures throughout the northeast, with Christmas Eve hitting a balmy 70 degrees in northern New York. Because of this trend, a number of mornings we woke to a heavy fog covering the earth. Motorists were cautioned to drive with care because of limited visibility.
Isn’t our journey through life like travelling through fog? We make our plans, envisioning results to unfold a certain way as we strain to peek ahead, anticipating what may or may not be around the next corner.
Then sometimes, life throws the unforeseen curve ball at us, and we end up travelling an entirely different road than expected.
Yet God assures us, that even through the unanswered questions and unexpected losses of this life, there is a hope that lies ahead.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then [at Christ’s appearing in the future] face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV)
The word dimly is en ainigmati in the Greek, from which we get the word enigma. It is the only place this word is used in the New Testament.
How significant that God reminds us in the context of our hope—that our life here and now is in ways puzzling, mysterious, and difficult to understand—but someday we will know, even as we are known by Him.
Other translations use darkly, or imperfectly in this verse. And the Message states it as:
“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Perhaps this fog—this enigma—is a kind of protection to us, not allowing us to see too far ahead, but calling us back to the present moment—reminding us to hold tightly to the Lord’s hand, as we trust Him to guide us through the places we cannot see.
Someday the fog will be lifted and all will be clearly seen. But until then, we live in His presence, trusting Him to safely guide us down the path ahead, one step at a time.
Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton
Hi Cheryl, nice article! While reading it I was thinking, that even though our life here and now may be puzzling, mysterious, and difficult, in James 4:13-14 God reminds us of just how short our life here on earth is: “Come now you who say today or tomorrow, we will go to such an such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
Yes! I think of that verse in James often – it helps me keep life in perspective. Thanks Tony!
I think you hit the nail on the head. We are frustrated because we don’t know what’s going to happen, yet if we did, we’d either be discouraged or complacent. Neither of which are good places to be. We have to trust God and the only way to do that is to commit our ways to Him.
Well said, Carol. Blessings to you!