f f f f f f f f f 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.
f f f f f f f f f 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.
f f f f f f f f f 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.
f f f f f f f f f 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.
f f f f f f f f f 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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