The Lord spoke this word to me—conundrum. A conundrum is a confusing or difficult problem, a puzzle, a riddle, or a word game.
God is quite intriguing and is hard to figure out at times because He definitely uses riddles and puzzles to speak to me.
One time in particular comes to mind as I am writing. God asked me to quit my job so I could work for Him. He played a game with me and I know it was to lighten things up for me because I was so taken back by His way of doing—His idea of not working to make a living.
Anyway in this game God said this word to me—gravy train. The first thing I thought of was “Gravy Train” dog food. After taking the time to examine what God said to me, I realized He wanted me to figure out why He said gravy train.
In researching the phrase, God showed me that He said gravy train because He had a gravy train job (an easy job) for me to do for Him. The job He had for me to do for Him would not only be a wonderful job, and one that I loved to do, but one I would be good at.
Lots of times when God has spoken to me in riddles and given me puzzles to figure out, I didn’t wait on Him. I didn’t seek Him in what He was saying to me and lived then on a wrong impression. I had the wrong understanding that accompanied wrong living.
God is a revelation!
Likewise, though we know from the Word of God parables are meant to be revealed, we often go with our own impression and skip seeking God for the understanding we need to live in His Kingdom, consequently, living opposed to His ways.
Mark 4:21 And He said to them, Is the lamp brought in to be put under a peck measure or under a bed, and not [to be put] on the lamp stand? 22 [Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known. 23 if any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend.
God is not only creative and likes to have fun with us, but, His actual motive is that we learn who He is and the way He shows is who He is, is by revealing His mysteries to us.
Not only does God reveal Himself to us when we seek Him, but He teaches us how His Kingdom operates.
Like in this conundrum topic—being able to figure out what God is truly saying to us comes from hearing—attentively listening to Him and then waiting for Him to give us His wisdom to solve the riddle. When God speaks to us in riddles or when we read the Word we need Him to reveal to us what we need to know, thus we have to be listening.
Have you ever had conversations with people who don’t hear a word you are saying? In the conversation it seems they have already judged and think they know what you will say, before you have a chance to say it? Thus it is apparent they’re not interested in what you have to say. I am not sure why they bother asking to begin with, except to think it is polite to at least go through the motions of asking?
Whatever the reason, since they haven’t heard, they really have no understanding of you, or know what you were going to say. They might think what they heard, or that their quick synopsis they made of you is correct, but if they would give you a chance and listen they could see who you really are.
A whole lot more than their quick summarization.
It is the same with God, some are asking but not really listening because they think they already know God, they have already a judgment made so when they meet with the Word —and should be listening/hearing, they're not. They already think they know God and what He is going to say before giving Him a chance to voice Himself.
Not listening to God sums up no understanding of God, and no real relationship with God. If we’re not really listening to God and living by others judgments of who God is—or our own quick estimation of Him, we might think we have a relationship with Him, but really we don‘t.
If you know someone who doesn’t listen to you, they might think they’re your friend, but in your mind, they’re just an acquaintance. If we don’t let God show Himself to us we’re a mere acquaintance of His.
Without knowing God we can’t obey Him and we will live without the manifestation of His presence working in our lives. On the other hand seeking to understand and making it our pursuit to apply God’s principles to our lives (obeying Him) will enable us to know God. Jesus said if you love Me, you will obey Me and I will manifest Myself to you (John 14:21).
Mark 4:11 And He said to them, To you has been entrusted the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]; but for those outside [of our circle] everything becomes a parable,
When we’re not interested in the Kingdom of God, then we’re just a mediocre listener. In that we are outside of His circle, without revelation knowledge, even thinking God is a mystery when really He shouldn’t be a mystery at all. As Christians we should have an abundance of revelation knowledge of Him.
Thinking we know God and don’t know Him at all is a dangerous place to be.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].
Obviously those who Jesus was talking to thought they were right with Him, but they proved not to have the understanding they thought they had.
I am not sure why many are so un-teachable and why some think they know more than then they do, but, it makes them a poser and on that day what they thought they knew will cost them their eternal life in heaven.
Listen to what Jesus said to the Pharisees.
John 9: 39 Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind. 40 Some Pharisees who were near, hearing this remark, said to Him, Are we also blind? 41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.]
Be willing to hear!
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing. 16 But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the marketplaces who call to their playmates, 17 We piped to you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and beat your breasts and weep aloud. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, He has a demon! 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners!
God has gone out of His way to reach us, are we listening?
Mark 4:33 With many such parables [Jesus] spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear and to comprehend and understand. 34 He did not tell them anything without a parable; but privately to His disciples (those who were peculiarly His own) He explained everything [fully].