GOD’S WILL: SECRET OR REVEALED?

The SECRET things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are REVEALED belong to us and to our children forever, that we may DO all the words of this law – Deuteronomy 29:29

The Will of God can be viewed from the perspective of how much of it is revealed: is it fully revealed, partially revealed, or kept secret? God’s revealed will is meant for us and our generations; while His Secret Will belongs absolutely to Him (Dt.29:29). The fully Revealed Will of God is what is contained in a substantial proportion of the Bible. God has fully revealed His moral principles, commands, instructions, and precepts for positive living.

The partially revealed Will of God relates to certain issues that are touched on in the Scriptures, but not in a full, complete, or comprehensive manner. For example, the Bible provides profound principles, guidelines, and instructions on marriage, but is unlikely to give a direct instruction on whom to marry.  Also, scriptures consistently confirm the reality of the Lord’s Second Coming, but certain details, particularly the exact time of His Coming is kept sealed and secret (Mt.25:13).

The Unrevealed or Secret Will of God comprises certain things He has chosen not to reveal to us. God is sovereign in all affairs, especially as to His choice to keep secret or reveal His Will. What is sure and certain is that He has no delight in hoarding revelation that would be beneficial to the destinies of His people. God can also keep His Will secret until a set  season or reserve to reveal it in due time through His appropriately ordained vessel. Sometimes God’s Secret Will could be part of His strategy to relate to us in a more intimate way or a means to maturing us. Let us ponder on few other scriptures about the Secret Will of God:

• The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant (Psa.25:14)
• …Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a REVEALER of SECRETS…(Dan.2:47)
• Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Am.3:7)
• The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints (Col.1:26).

What was God’s Secret Will yesterday might have become His Revealed Will today. God reveals His secrets and mysteries in His time; and to those who fear Him, to His servants the prophets, to His saints and His friends. God intends that we be content with His revealed Will, the Bible, in making most of life’s decisions. This does not however debar us from desiring the revelation of His Secret Will through the Holy Spirit, but it must be in His time and in submission to His sovereign choice. Otherwise, Satan is more than willing and subtle to meet the uncontrolled craving for such revelation with his false and deceitful alternatives.