II Corinthians 2:9-12 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Within the text, Paul makes a continuous reference to “things” that are associated with God. Things which God desires to bestow on man. In addition to emphasizing the giving of these things, Paul speaks of the glimpse of these things; “But God hath revealed them.” Note the word “revealed”, it means to remove the veil or covering so as to expose to open view that which was previously hidden. God has no desire that men remain ignorant to these things, but encourages getting a glimpse!
With respect to getting a glimpse, there are three areas to investigate; the first being the subjects. All men are not subject to getting a glimpse of the things of God. In verse 9, Paul gives a detailed description of those that are not only incapable of getting a glimpse, but have given no thought to those things, “neither have entered into the heart.” Concerning reasoning, affections, and the understanding of the things of God, there has never been a time that thoughts of those things have sprung up or developed in their mind in general. There is not only the absence of ability, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard”, but also appetite. Paul simply calls them, “man”; a reference to humanity in general as they are in opposition to God. For whom is this glimpse reserved; “for them that love him”; those that have “not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God.” Paul declares them to be “us.”
Secondly, we notice the source of the glimpse, “by his Spirit.” The word “by” denotes the channel of an act or means whereby something is made available. While the Sovereign pulled off the covering, the Spirit projected and publicized the contents! Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). While the natural man has no awareness of these “things”; the new man does because of the presence of the Holy Spirit that now resides within and comes along side to serving as our guide.
Lastly, we notice the substance of the glimpse; “the things of God” (vs.11). While Paul is incapable of listing for us all that constitutes of “the things of God”, he does enumerate three. He speaks of prepared things, “the things which God hath prepared” (vs.9). I am afraid that most have set a limit on the thoughts of prepared things to consider only a future state and have failed to factor in a furnished Saviour, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Paul emphasizes the profound things, “the deep things” (vs.10). Speaking of those profound things, God said through the lips of Isaiah, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Lastly, Paul spoke of provided things, “the things that are freely given (vs.12). One of the chief characteristics of God’s nature is that of giving; He is a benevolent God! It is these things of God that Spirit is encouraging us to get a glimpse of.
Declaring the goodness of God, Paul said, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32). Don’t wait to discover the “all things”; start now by getting a glimpse!