We are to "... fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (II Cor.4:18), living by what the Word says, and not what we see (II Cor.5:7). According to Heb.11:16 it is impossible to please God without faith. In fact, a sinful heart is sometimes described as an unbelieving heart (Heb.3:12). According to Ro.10:17 "... faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ" (emphasis added, see also John 8:47).
Jesus became wisdom for us (I Cor.1:30). Our faith rests on His power and not our wisdom (I Cor.2:5). "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor.2:14). In fact, the very Word which is now opened to us through Christ's wisdom was a mystery which has been kept hidden from past ages (Col.1: 25). When we speak of God's wisdom "... we speak of God's secret wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began (emphasis added, I Cor.2:7).
Now however, we are to have a complete understanding of God's Word in order that we may unlock that mystery and find the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col.2:2-3, I Cor.2:9, Matt.11:25 and Acts 20:27). The Holy Spirit is here that we may understand (I Cor.2:12). He has made known to us the mystery, and did so with "all wisdom and understanding" (Eph.1:8-9). Satan has succeeded in blinding the minds of unbelievers (II Cor.4:4) and there are many deceivers at work in the world today attempting to blind us (II John 7). The Word tells us that there will be some in latter times who will abandon the faith and follow these deceiving spirits (I Tim.4:1). We must be on guard and not assume that we "cannot" be fooled unless we are in the Word, continually checking that which we hear from others (Acts 17:11).
Notice the Word says that the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are still hidden in Christ; but now, through Christ we have the ability to solve the mystery and find the treasure which the Father destined for our Glory. However, we must take an active part in this treasure hunt. Jesus said "make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to" (emphasis added, Lk.13:24). We are told in Heb.11:6 that "we must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (emphasis added). We know that those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Ps.34:10), for "...You Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You." (emphasis added, Ps.9:10, see also Ps.7:17 & Ps.92:1). Our prayer should be that we will always "look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always" (emphasis added, Ps.105:4). He promises to strengthen those who are fully committed to Him (II Chron.16:9). "Do not let the ...(Word) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful ... the Lord will be with you wherever you go" (parenthesis and emphasis added, Joshua 1:8-9). That applies to today as well, for we are told in John 15:7 that if we remain in Him and His Words remain in us, we will receive from Him that which we ask.
II Pe.1:5-10 tells us of seven (7) qualities we are to make every effort to add to our faith. The third of these is knowledge While we know that our search must be intense, we are not to forget the lesson of I Cor.13 which is: the ability to fathom all mysteries and to possess all knowledge without love is a grave error. Likewise, Ja.1:22 cautions us to be doers of the Word as well as listeners. Return for a moment to I Pe.1:8 where we read "... if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." This search has a reason, and that reason is productivity for Jesus. Our search of the Word will produce faith, and we have just seen in I Cor.13 that we need love. Therefore, we can now understand why Gal.5:6 says that "the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." That is the productivity we are seeking; serving our Lord in love with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22).
Before we even begin our journey through the Word, we are told that the search will be fruitful, for in Matt.7:7 we learn that if we seek we will find. Prov.8:17 says, "I love those who love Me and those who seek Me find Me." Ps.9:10 tells us that He has never forsaken those who seek Him. In Ja.1:5 we are further advised that if we ask for wisdom and believe we receive it when we ask, it is ours. Therefore, the tools needed for this treasure hunt are available through the Word. The search is on, and praise God not only has He given us the tools, but He has also given us the map.
Don't let anyone tell you that it is not God's will for you to know what He has said in His Word. We have already covered the verses that tell us the Holy Spirit is here to lead us into all truth. We have already seen the verses which say all Scripture is God breathed and is useful for instruction. We have already been shown that God has made known the mystery to us in His Word. I Cor.13:12 says "Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am known." It does not say that we are not to know all of that part of God which He has revealed to us in His Word. It says that now, on this earth, we do not know all, or see all of God. That is true, but the Word is not all there is to God. Therefore, even if we knew the whole Bible, and understood it at every level, we would still not know all of God. We would still only "know in part." However, that part which has been given to us, the Word, is to be understood fully. "But ... the Holy Spirit ... will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said" (John 14:26). Let us therefore take this treasure map of the Word and seek, not for fool's gold, but for the real thing.
Prov.2:1-5 says that, "... if you accept My Words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (emphasis added). According to Isa.5:13 God's people are led into exile for lack of understanding; therefore, it is easy to see why Prov.4:7 tells us "though it costs all you have, get understanding." (see Job 28:28 and Jer.1:12 for literal fulfillment)
The first place to seek is in His Word. There are deep things, yes even secret things hidden there for us (I Cor.4:1 & 2:10). The Holy Spirit makes it possible to understand what we read and hear (John 14:16, John 16:13 and Ro.15:4), but we must do the reading and hearing, and that is not always easy. II Pe.3:16, while referring to Paul's letters says, "his letters contain some things that are hard to understand..." However, in vs 14 we are admonished to make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and as you will recall, Eph.6:26 said that this cleansing is done through the Word. Acts 17:11 shows us that the Bereans were a noble people because they examined the Scriptures daily.
We turn our ears to listen and in the process of turning we are to remember that faith comes by hearing. If we are busy searching as for hidden treasure, we find that the search becomes all consuming. This is at it should be, for His Word tells us to be in prayer in everything (Phil.4:6), and take every thought to make it captive to Christ (II Cor.10:5). Whatever we do, in word or deed, is to be done in the Name of Jesus (Col.3:17). Everything we do is to be done for His glory (I Cor.10:31).
As we call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, we are to remember that as we call out to Jesus, He calls to us. I Pe.2:9 shows us that God calls us out of darkness into light. We are called into freedom (Gal.5:13), peace (Col.3:15), holiness (I Pe.1:16), and eternal life (John 5:24). He has even called us into fellowship with Him (I Cor.1:9). Fellowship is a partnership and we must take an active part in it. We are fellow workers with Him (II Cor.6:1). The high priests in the Old Testament did not serve alone. The other priests performed their assigned duties along with Aaron. Jesus is our High Priest and we have duties we are to perform.
He tells us that we have been called to God's eternal glory in Christ (I Pe.5:10). According to Ro.2:7 eternal life is given to those who by persistence seek glory, honor, and immortality. We are to seek His glory, for we have been called into it. We are to be transformed into it (II Cor.3:18). But, we must seek Him through His Word. "The Lord looks down from heaven ... to see if there are any who ... seek God" (Ps.14:2, see also Ps.53:2). We know from Heb.11:6 that He rewards those who seek Him, but what is even more amazing is the fact that He is actually looking down for us. He has not hidden Himself from us. His mystery is hidden from the world, not those who seek Him. He doesn't hide from those who seek Him, He rewards them.
We saw earlier in I Cor.2:7 that God's wisdom, which is hidden in Christ, is destined for our glory. Jesus was revealed in glory when His physical body was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration (II Pe.1:7 and Lk.9:32). Like Solomon, we must cry out for wisdom and knowledge (II Chron.1:10) for that is a prerequisite to the glory of God filling the temple (II Chron.7:1-2). Only now we are God's living temple (II Cor.6:16 and I Pe. 2:5) and it is in us that His physical glory will again be revealed, if we will search for it.