The Mystery of Godliness

What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the word "Mystery"?

Does it look something like this:

If it does, than I hate to tell you that...

You're wrong!

This is how Webster's Dictionary defines the word "mystery":

A religious truth that one can only know by revelation and cannot fully understand.

-or-

The hidden, eternal plan of God that is being revealed to His people in accordance to His plan.

So, when there's something strange in the neighborhood, who you gonna call?



Sorry, not those guys... We can call upon Him in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So, as we look at the scripture in 1st Timothy 3:16 we read:

And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh
Justified by the spirit
Seen by angels
Preached among the Gentiles
Believed on in the world
Received up in glory

What a wonderful mystery!

This verse contains the mystery, or the secret if you will to godliness, and guess what? No where in that verse are you or I mentioned. No where in that verse are what we are supposed to do, or how we are supposed to act mentioned.

What is this secret all about?

JESUS!

The mystery of godliness is centered upon and revolves around the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I think this is very purposefull in that if we try to attain godliness based upon what we do or don't do, we will only attain self-righteousness. If we attempt to attain godliness through the work that Jesus has already done for us, it wil leave us humble open to a real work of God in our hearts.

John 15:5 says "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."

Bearing that fruit of godliness sprouts forth naturally from an abiding relationship with Jesus, not from our own list of do's and don'ts.

So, if we seek to live godly lives, we need to seek to abide in Jesus, to cultivate and maintain a rich, intimate relationship with Him through spending time in His word and praying to Him, and not forgetting to listen from time to time...

Sola Una Vida

In 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Paul says this:

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

It reminded me of the old saying: "There is only one life and it will soon be past, only what I have done for Christ will last."

I read a poem the other day that incorporated that line, and summed up what the Apostle Paul had to say as well:

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life and it will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in that day my Lord to meet,
And stand before His judgment seat;
Only one life and it will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me, Father, a purpose deep,
In joy, or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life and it will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Let's make it count!