"Eye has not seen, or ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9)

These words from the pen of the beloved Paul are often spoken at funerals . This is due to the fact that many think Paul here is peaking of heaven. I am aware of the fact this would give much comfort to one who sorrows over the death of a loved one. There are many other Scriptures that tell us about heaven. However, it is my understanding, at this time, that Paul is not referring to the glories that believers well receive after death, but rather to the blessings that one enjoys now as a result of his love for God.

Let us observe the following:

As we examine the first five verses of this chapter, we note that Paul was speaking that the message of his preaching was a divine power. In verse one, he speaks of declaring to them the Testament of God. He declared unto them that Jesus was crucified. This message was not of human wisdom. The he follows in verse five that our faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. What then does it mean that our faith should be in the power of God? The power of God had to be revealed.

Looking at verse seven, we understand from Paul that the message he was presently delivering at one time was hidden. The truth about what God had prepared for those whom he loved had never been seen by the eye, ear, or heart of man. Now Paul informs us that the things not seen by the eye, heard by the heard, or thought of by the mind of man have now been revealed to us (the apostles) by the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God knows the deep things of God. Since they have been revealed by the Spirit, we can now know the deep things of God. Listen to the words of Paul in the Ephesian letter. "How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before a few words which when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)" (Eph. 3:3-4). When we leave these words of Paul, as he spoke them, it seems clear that what he is speaking about, when he said that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and the heart of man had not thought of was that which had been revealed to them being the message, the gospel of Christ.

Let us not overlook the blessings that now come to those who love the Lord, the forgiveness of sins, to be called the sons of God, (Rom. 8:14) and the blessing of being a member of his church, the body now (1 Cor. 12:13), and the joy of serving the Lord. Let us be grateful for the blessing of Romans 8:28, and the blessing of prayer — the blessing that we can cast our care on him (1 Pet. 5).

Eye hath not seen, ear heard, nor the heart of man ever thought about the glorious gospel of Christ that was revealed by the Spirit. The gospel of Christ is the power of God (Rom. 1:16).

Guardian of Truth XLI: 4 p. 2
February 20, 1997