The Great Puzzle

The Great Puzzle

Very few people have received grace to solve this great puzzle, not because it is so complicated, but because it is so indescribably simple! What kind of a puzzle is this? It is this very relevant puzzle: Why, when I would very much like to do God’s will and be mightily blessed by Him, it not succeeding for me?

Someone has written in a hymn or a poem that every “why” will be answered in eternity. However, just think how glorious it is that all these “whys” can be answered now during the time of our sojourn. The puzzle can be solved now! Take a look at Matthew 16:24. We can phrase the puzzle like this: “Why is it not working for me even though I very much desire to follow Jesus?” Answer: Because you are carrying on with something that cannot possibly make it go well for you—something that is utterly hopeless; namely, you are following Him without denying yourself, without denying your own will, or you are doing it only by following it at your own discretion instead of according to God’s Word in every detail—that which is our perfect guideline! In that way, which unfortunately is the norm, each attempt at walking in Jesus’ steps is fruitless.

We can most easily comprehend this revolutionary truth by way of examples, and all examples are consistent in showing that I must deny one thing in order to obtain the other; I must let go of the one in order to gain the other. The great corruption of mankind is that people want to have both, and they seek in vain. They would like to find happiness, but they do not want to go the only way that leads to it. This is precisely why it was very much on Jesus’ heart to tell them this highly relevant and effective truth. In my childhood I read a very fitting statement in one of the school books: “I cannot be buyer and seller simultaneously” (namely, of one and the same thing).

I cannot give away a banknote and at the same time keep it for myself. I must necessarily deny my desire and will to keep it if I am going to be able to give it away. I cannot be meek and quiet, and at the same time be irritated and angry. I cannot suffer unjustly and simultaneously sue for my rights. I cannot be flexible and pliable while being stubborn like a billy goat.

All God-fearing wives would love to be in submission to their own husbands in all things, as the Scriptures so clearly command, but how can they accomplish it while they are full of self-will which they also want to carry out. Dear sister, give up this useless striving. It is completely hopeless to achieve being in submission in this way. You must obviously deny and totally give up the one in order to accomplish the other!

Without exception, this also applies to honor and everything else. If you want to be honored by God, then you must always deny all your desire to be honored by man.

It is absolutely ironic that this should be life’s great puzzle, yet it is, as far as most believers are concerned. This is how terribly stupid people are!

May this riddle now be solved for you once and for all, dear brother and dear sister! Let it be so!

Then you can truly sing together with the singer for the rest of your life: “Comfort untold! Now I behold . . . .”