The Great Imponderables

Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’? “Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung. All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar. Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. (Job 36:22-26 ESV).

There are always questions that make us scratch our heads and simply respond with a “hmmm”. For example, “Why don’t cats like to swim?” or, “Do penguins have knees?” or, “Why do clocks run clockwise?” Sometimes there simply isn’t an adequate answer to our question. David Feldman has written a series of eleven wonderful little books asking some of these “imponderables.” They are filled with wit and humor, and cause us to think a bit more deeply about a life we often take for granted. The study of Theology is something like that. It causes us to think a bit deeper about the character and nature of God. It also helps us to formulate an answer to some of questions we have about God with something other than “just because.” I have heard it said that all the great theological questions have been asked by three- and four-year-olds. Art Linkletter once said, “Kids say the darndest things.” He was certainly right. I read of a teacher who each year in her preschool class would ask a “buddy” class of fourth graders to visit her classroom to write letters to God with the younger children. Some of the questions were priceless: “Where exactly is heaven?” and, “How do you hear everyone’s prayers?” and, “Will I see my grandma there?” and “God, how can you be three people at the same time?” and, finally, “Will we eat in heaven?” Pretty simple, but they are “head-scratchers” all at the same time. I am struck by how many are the same questions I have heard through the years. Perhaps you have some of these questions, or others that simply cause you to wonder. The temptation to become impatient as we wait on an answer that simply is not forthcoming often causes us to trust the first voice that seems to be reasonable. Often the correct answer is not reasonable by the estimation of human logic. The cross is such an unreasonable truth. The apostle Paul said it this way: For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19 ESV). So, as you ponder the imponderables, rest in this fact. God loves you so much, he gave His only Son to deliver you in His grace!