e e e e e e e e e e I could certainly emphasize with your post. The struggle to
comprehend ‘three in one’ is so beyond our finite comprehension. Yet, it is
critical in our relationship with God.
e e e e e e e e e e There is, however, another relationship that is helpful in developing
a greater understanding of this capability to be ‘three in one’. In Genesis
2:24 (NIV), God speaks to the remarkable relationship when one man is
united with one woman – “That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Having lived this out
for over thirty-three years with my wife, with each passing year I become
more aware of the ‘oneness’ of these two individuals who are separate,
distinct, gender different and with their own personality quirks.
e e e e e e e e e e As I have long counseled, I think this supernatural unity in marriage
is never cleanly separated by (man-created) divorce. Instead, the “one flesh”
is ripped apart back into two individuals. When that occurs, however, the
man still has bits of his wife and the wife still has bits of her husband. This
is undoubtedly true if children are involved as well. In my opinion, this is
why there are several Scriptural admonitions against remarriage.
e e e e e e e e e e In my mind (and soul) when I speak or commune with “God” it is
the triune God. When with one of the three, I will use their singular
identifiers – Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. In Revelation 4:8, 11 (NIV) we
read two exhortations by worshipers to – what I believe is – the triune God:
“‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to
come. [see also Isa. 6:3]
. . . .
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their
being.”
Every aspect of those exhortations fully addresses the triune God. In
contrast, however, in Revelation 5:12 (NIV) we read this exhortation by the
worshipers to the “Lamb of God”:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and
wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Clearly, that could only be directed towards Jesus the Christ.
e e e e e e e e e e Ultimately, I believe mysteries such as these leave us intrigued to
want to know more. They drive us to deepen our relationship with God, as
well as with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As that relationship
develops, we learn more and realize that we want to learn even more
because what we have learned about God is so amazing. I am reminded of
Jeremiah 9: 23, 24 (NIV):
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the
strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the
one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know
me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness
on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
It will be my prayer for both of us to “have the understanding to know
[God]”. That this course will aid us in that understanding so that we might
share the good news with others.
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