Sermon On The Mystery And Wonderment Of God

Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist once remarked: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling is at the centre of true religiousness.” 1 Timothy 3:16 confirms: “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

Mystery has been defined as: Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain. “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.” These enlightening words were written by William Cowper as the first verse of a poem and later released as a hymn. It was entitled; Conflict: Light shining out of darkness. It was accompanied by a verse from St John’s Gospel (John 13:7) which reminds us: “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” The mystery of God is reputed by many to be God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Wonderment is described as a state of awed admiration and respect. God has been described as “A God of Wonder and Awe.” He is considered as the perfection in life for our aspirations. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Only God can do the greatest things in life with His almighty power and love for all. These may include experiences that are perceived to be the function of His divinity and often include miracles. Acts 4:30 confirms: “While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Grief is often the aftermath of the loss of a loved one. Everyone in life loses someone or something close to them at some stage. It is an inevitable consequence of life. It was once said by Benjamin Franklin: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” People react differently to the predicament. Some will begin the grieving process almost immediately after the initial shock. Others may refuse to accept that it is real and must be a bad dream. Grief is defined as intense sorrow. The loss may include a close family member, a friend or even a beloved pet.

There was once a lady who had recently lost both her husband and her daughter in a tragic road accident. She had been happily married for fifteen years. The husband was still in the prime of his life and had everything to live for. The couple had given birth to a lovely daughter some seven years earlier and a son ten years previously. The boy was in attendance at a renowned boarding school. On a particular morning, the father offered to give his daughter a lift to school as the weather conditions were appalling. It had been snowing heavily overnight and both he and his wife felt it would be prudent to take the girl to school by car for safety reasons. Unfortunately, the roads were very slippery and as the car travelled along a barrier-less dual carriageway, it hit black ice and skidded across the central reservation and into the path of an oncoming lorry. Both were killed instantly. The widow was bereft and struggled to come to terms with the loss of two people so dear to her in life. The death of her daughter hit her particularly hard and she refused to accept that it had actually happened. The daughter possessed the beauty of a fine emerald and was always full of life.

They were extremely close and did most things together. Their relationship was considered more as best friends, rather than mother and daughter. At the funeral service held jointly, the vicar of the local church who presided, informed the bereaved wife that if she ever felt the need, she was always welcome to visit the rectory for a chat. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 states: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” For several months after the death, she would carry her daughter’s favourite doll around with her wherever she went. She kept it concealed in a small holdall and would have conversations with the beloved toy when she was by herself. This was the only source of comfort for her and kept her daughter's spirit alive within her.