NEAR THE END? - Baptist Bible Tribune

Seven secretsof dynamic livingBy Jim Combs, Tribune Editor 1983 - 1995ast thou heard the secretof God?” (Job 15:18)H Within the pages of Holy Writare many secrets that are discussedand revealed. We read of secret sins,secret things that belong unto God,secret faults that hinder our progress,and of the “secret places of the stairs.”Secrets are intriguing, interesting,fascinating. But in this article, I amtaking the ancient question of Eliphaz,who probably did not know the answer,either, and associating it first with theprofound doxology of Paul in Romans16:25-27:“Now to him that is of power toestablish you according to mygospel, and the preaching of JesusChrist, according to the revelationof the mystery, which waskept secret since the world began.But now is made manifest, andby the scriptures of prophets, accordingto the commandment ofthe everlasting God, made knownto all nations for the obedienceof faith; To the only wise God beglory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”Whatever Eliphaz may or maynot have had in mind, Paul unveils bydivine inspiration the great secret ofthe ages that the gospel of Christ andHis glorious salvation would be madeknow to all nations for the obedience offaith...the gospel is an open secret.Paul enlarges on that concept whenhe writes in Colossians of “the mysterywhich hath been hid from ages andgenerations, but now is made manifestto his saints; To whom God would makeknown what is the riches of the glory ofthis mystery among the gentiles; whichis Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians1:26, 27).This is the greatest secret ofdynamic Christianity, that Christ is actuallyalive in His divine and dynamicpresence in your very life and being. Asa tooth grows from inside out, Christiancharacter and conduct ideally proceedfrom within, from the reality of the indwellingChrist. Let me build on theseconcepts by suggesting and selectingseven open secrets for dynamic Christliving, based on the power-packed principlesof the Word of God.1. The secret of drawingenergy from ChristThis mysterious (as God calls it) powerand presence can teach you what youneed to know, if you are only receptive16 Baptist Bible Tribune [ July/August 2009 ]