No eye has seen, no ear has heard

As it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” - the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  1 Cor 2:9-10 (NIV)

The apostle Paul quoted from Isaiah 64:4, "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."  He applies it to the wonderful hidden plan of God for mankind's redemption (the crucifixion of His beloved Son on the cross of Calvary), which has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.  Indeed, no human mind can possibly conceive crucifixion to be God's perfect plan for mankind's salvation.  In fact, the rulers of this world were also caught by surprise when they thought they had the upper hand when Christ was killed on the cross.  God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message (of the cross) preached to save those who believe (1 Cor 1:21; 2 Cor 2:7-8). 

I was flipping through the book Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne recently.  They argue that lasting success comes from creating 'blue oceans': untapped new market spaces ripe for growth as opposed to competing with those already in existence - red oceans.  The examples quoted that spawned multibillion dollar industries were mutual funds, cell phones, biotechnology, discount retail, express package delivery, coffee bars, home videos etc.  Just 30 years ago, none of the industries were in existence in a meaningful way.   The reality is that industries never stand still but continue to evolve with the changing times.  The strategy to create blue oceans is the key to unlocking the potential in the market places.  It takes vision, courage and experimentation to see beyond the current reality.  The story of two shoes salesmen on an island where nobody wears any footware illustrates this point well.  One exclaimed that there's no market for shoes while another saw immense possibilities. 

In the spiritual sense, the cross was God's blue ocean strategy to a (spiritually) dying world.  Nobody except God knew what He was doing.  The good news is that it is still applicable today.  We don't have to bring our wealth, achievements, prestige or status with us; they don't earn salvation for us.  We come to him just as we are - broken, contrite and repentant - believing and entrusting ourselves to a Saviour who is able to save us from our sins.   In today's world, where the thief comes to steal (our faith in God), kill (snuff out the lives of people) and destroy (family relationships), God extends forgiveness of sins to those who would come to Him in repentance and faith. 

Curiosity abounds regarding the future and especially in how our world would end as seen in the interest in the 21 Dec date of the Mayan calendar.  However, as believers in Christ we know from the book of Revelation, Satan and his emissaries would be eventually cast into the lake of fire.  Likewise those who follow him.  Preceeding this would be catalysmic events that would foreshadow the second coming of Christ.  The unfolding of these events is open to interpretation.  One thing is certain is that God had already in mind what He would do to usher in the second coming of Christ just as He did for Christ's first coming.  Certainly, we may not perceive with our physical eyes nor ears but we can through our spiritual eyes and ears like Simeon and the prophetess Anna, whom the Holy Spirit revealed to them concerning the baby Jesus, the redemption of Israel (Lk 2:25-38). 

The only way the church is going to perceive the unfolding of end time events is through prayer and fasting, just like what Anna did.  We thank God for the raising up of prayer warriors and intercessors all over the world coming together in prayer houses to intercede for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  May you and I be part of this prayer movement to usher in the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Maranatha!