Ephesians 3:4
“By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ”.
I enjoy the word mystery. It represents many things: any entire genre of books and movies, a topic that piques our interest. The bible uses it sparingly. Once about marriage, once about the mystery of lawlessness, once about how God is working with the jews in the church age and so on. The overwhelming majority use is about God's new covenant through Jesus. Colossians 1:26, 27 says, "The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
It's like a drama that's been hidden since the beginning. The Old Testament has many types and foreshadows which were all revealed in Jesus. He even kept much disguised in parables. Even the apostles were unaware.
A big hint came at Jesus' death, the veil of the temple was torn in two. This was several inches thick, so it was done by God. This is worth dwelling on for a minute. In the Old Testament only the high priest could enter the veil once a year. A rope would be tied about his ankle for his removal incase he went unconscious or died. This showed the great gulf between God and man due to His complete holiness and our utter sinfulness. Jesus' sacrifice paid for our sins, thus we can be holy if we accept His sacrifice.
Going refers to the Colossian passage again, "Christ in you, the hope of glory". Not only can we be forgiven, not only can we be close, but He will reside within us. A jew of old could not even fathom this. This is the mystery. God and man reconciled and are as close as can be. This would astonish one of any other religion. Their god(s) are not close or gracious.
Oddly enough, unless one is willing to honor God, they are still blinded to the mystery. Romans 1:21 says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts."
God will not allow people to belittle His Son and His sacrifice. Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces". If one isn't open to the truth the Lord won't share it with them. He will work in them to make them open, but the preciousness of the message will be withheld.
So we aren't to share it with those not open. We are to love them and wait for an opening. God moves heaven and earth to work on them. He uses us in the process. We are an advertisement for this close relationship as we seek to tell them of it. What an honor.
A time will come when we are in eternity. This world will be a memory. This relationship will be amazing. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." We can never grasp the fulness of His glory. I believe eternity will be a continual unfolding of it. Our amazement, love and admiration will ever increase.
Lord, thank You for this mystery. Help us to always be in awe and help us to continue to share it.