Unbelievable! Indescribable! We use expressions like these to tell of something that is far beyond our expectations. There is an expression that is taken from the account of a visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon and it really is a foretaste of what a person will discover when they come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Kings 10:1–7 (ESV) — 1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. 6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.
Do you get the feeling the Queen of Sheba was impressed? More than impressed. Her experience of being in Solomon’s presence took her breath away. Indeed, as she said, “the half has not been told me” fit the occasion. Since those who likewise come to the Lord Jesus Christ and are given the blessing of seeing the magnitude of riches in salvation along with the mystery of God’s will, it too as God reveals in His word should have the same result in each of us.
Whatever God has used in the Gospel message to bring you to Christ varies from person to person, but the truth is very simple. All of us have sinned because we are sinners, therefore we live in open rebellion against the Creator of heaven and earth. Our destiny is judgment and eternal punishment which is only right since we have lived as God’s enemy and been satisfied to be so. When the Spirit of God works things within and without in preparing us to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that declares God sent His son to die for our sins to be that one and only bridge whereby we can come to God. As God makes a change in our hearts in response to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved, we find new life and the half has not been told us. All the benefits that flow to us in that relationship are beyond anything we have ever thought or dreamed.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
Ephesians 1:3–8 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
The blessings from God do not stop there. Notice how the apostle continues with a further description of the hope that we have to face the uncertainty of this life.
Ephesians 1:9–10 (ESV) — 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
The very thought of it. God making known the mystery of His will that in the end He will unite all things in Christ in heaven and on earth. In other words, the Christian can know the outcome of things and it’s a great ending. The world knows nothing of this. In fact, they see gloom and doom. The Christian is not hiding or denying struggles in the world. Instead, they keep in mind what the Lord Jesus Christ has said.
John 16:33 (ESV) — 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 14:27 (ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
It’s easy to get our eyes off the prize and focus on the stuff that is in the world. But that is focusing upon uncertainty, rather than upon what is certain. Isn’t it interesting the certain things are unseen, where the uncertain things are things we can behold with the natural eye.
This hope of a glorious future where the Lord Jesus Christ brings all things together in heaven and earth and all under His control is beyond compare. It’s worth noting that such a hope gave Paul and others great boldness, encouragement, and stamina to face the difficulties of life, knowing something far better is still to come.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
No wonder the apostle John reiterated the need to let go and turn from the attraction of the world because it cannot compare with what lies ahead for the Christian as the world will only pull you down whereas keeping an eye on the future will lift us up.
1 John 2:15–18 (ESV) — 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
Stop and think how wonderful life will be, then realize you have but a glimpse and in reality it’s far better than your best thought as you realize the half has not been told you.
Here’s Paul’s reminder for the present with an eye on the future:
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
