Question 1

What are some things that are not ambiguous?

Accepted Answer

Job 42:2I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.Psalm 16:8I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 17:6I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.Psalm 119:75I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it.Psalm 135:5I know the greatness of the Lord—that our Lord is greater than any other god.Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.Nothing is ambiguous about God’s character. That is certain. He is always loving, all-knowing, fair, all-powerful, attentive, and ever present.Romans 3:30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.Galatians 3:22The Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.1 John 4:14-17We have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.1 John 5:20We know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.The Bible states without any ambiguity that God has provided only one path to eternal salvation and that is faith in his Son, Jesus Christ.John 10:14, 27“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me. . . . My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”1 John 2:3-6We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.1 John 3:7-10Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.1 John 4:7-8Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.1 John 4:20If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?As Christians, we belong to God—no ambiguity here. Our love relationship with God is sure. Our lives reflect our position as God’s children as we obey him.Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.1 John 2:27You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.1 John 4:13God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.God clearly states that the Holy Spirit lives in his followers. He continually and persistently teaches God’s truth.1 John 5:13I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.1 John 5:18We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.A Christian’s place in eternity is certain.

Question 2

What does God like to keep ambiguous?

Accepted Answer

Job 11:7“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?”Job 26:14“These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?”Job 36:22-33“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him? No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’ Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise. Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance. Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain. The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits. Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven? See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea. By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target. The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.”Job 37:5“God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.”Job 38:4-5“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?”Job 38:33“Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?”Psalm 147:5How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!Ecclesiastes 3:11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.Ecclesiastes 11:5Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.Isaiah 40:13Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?Isaiah 45:15Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways.Isaiah 55:8-9“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”Romans 11:33-36Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!God’s character is not ambiguous as in uncertain, but he is an enigma. He is inexplicable in his creation, his work, his power, his ways, and his understanding. As finite beings, we are not able to understand the infinite. For example, we are limited by time and space—God is not. Would we want a God absent of mystery, one we could fully comprehend? Then we would be his equal, and he wouldn’t be God. To fully understand God and his ways is impossible for us.Matthew 11:27“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”Matthew 13:35This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”Luke 8:10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’”Luke 10:21At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”1 Corinthians 1:27-28Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.James 2:5Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?God chose his Son to reveal himself to the world. But some of his teaching reveals hidden meanings only to those who truly want to hear and understand. Jesus often chose ambiguity in the world’s eyes to speak clarity to his followers’ hearts.

Question 3

What can God’s ambiguity teach me?

Accepted Answer

Job 37:23-24We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.The inexplicable aspects of God can teach us to respect him, causing us to hold him in awe and offer him the reverence he deserves.Matthew 24:30-31, 36, 42, 44“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven . . . However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows . . . So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming . . . You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”Mark 13:33, 35“And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! . . . You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak.”The mystery of the timing of Jesus’ return can motivate us to make consistent, godly choices every day.Romans 7:15-25I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.Galatians 4:9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?Colossians 2:20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world.The ambiguous question about the power of sin in our lives leads us to this truth: The only real answer to our sin is the person and work of Jesus Christ, who forgives all sin and moves us to totally depend on and trust him.

Question 4

When should we enjoy and appreciate ambiguity?

Accepted Answer

John 3:3-8Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”1 Corinthians 1:18The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.Just as we don’t have to fully understand electricity to enjoy light, we don’t have to fully understand being “born again” to experience God’s powerful salvation. Instead, we need to trust God and his Word and submit to his control. Faith is flipping on the switch and walking in the light.1 Corinthians 2:10-16It was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.Many biblical statements and teachings will become clear to us as we grow in our faith. We can enjoy learning these spiritual truths through the presence of God’s Spirit within us.Matthew 5:3-12“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”We can enjoy life’s ambiguities with an eternal perspective as we look forward to our reward in heaven.

Question 5

What do I do when there seems no single right answer for an important decision?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 5:23Again David asked the Lord what to do.2 Chronicles 20:12“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”Psalm 5:8Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.Psalm 32:8The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”James 1:5-8If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.The first step when we are unsure is to ask God for direction. Then we should anticipate his answer and commit to following his guidance.Colossians 3:17, 23Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father . . . Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.James 2:12So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.For those times when there is more than one right option, we can choose the best option with these criteria: What will best represent Jesus? What will be most loving to others? Then, whatever the decision, we can thankfully serve God with the choice we have made.

Question 6

How should I respond to life’s ambiguities?

Accepted Answer

Judges 14:4His [Samson’s] father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.Habakkuk 1:12-13O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they? Habakkuk had questions and doubts about how God acted, but not about who God is—faithful, loving, and just. We can know God is loving and just and still not understand why he allows some things to happen. But we can choose to trust him, regardless of what we understand.Sometimes we need to leave events in God’s hands, especially when we don’t know why they are happening.1 Corinthians 13:12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.2 Corinthians 4:8, 13, 15, 18We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. . . . But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” . . . All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. . . . So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.The best way to view earth’s ambiguities is from a different perspective—through the eyes of heaven.

Ambiguity