“Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing” (Psalm 2:1).

Why: The universal question from everyone’s lips is “Why”? From the questions of childhood to the questions of the elderly, everyone wants to know “Why”.

“Why me”? “Why is this happening”? “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble”? (Psalm 10:1). From David to Jesus the cry goes out “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring”? (Psalm 22:1; cf. Matthew 27:46).

In the throes of it, in the thick of it, in the battle, in the desperation, in the heartbreak, in the crushing, in the middle of it all we cry out, “Why”?!.

Wherefore: “Wherefore if you are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances” (Colossians 2:20). Amid all the why’s, there is a “wherefore”. There is a continuation, a going forward, a way through, there is something to follow after, to pursue. There is a Life above, beyond in the heavenlies. The “wherefore” makes certain of it. “Wherefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This will we do, if God permit” (Hebrews 6:1-3).

After the crucifixion, after the death, after the burial, after all the “whys”? there is a resurrection, there is a “wherefore”, there is the perfect. Was it not written concerning all the “whys”? Do not the Scriptures speak clearly concerning all these things? “Jesus said to them, Why are you troubled? Why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is I, Myself. Handle Me, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see Me have’ (Luke 24:38-39). “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter His Glory”? (Luke 24:26).

We must keep our eyes fixed on the Glory. We must pursue the Glory of God. That is the only thing that makes sense of everything. We are the children of God “And if children, then are we heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also Glorified Together with Him” (Romans 8:17).

What-Not: There is much to pursue in the Kingdom of God. There is much to experience: beginnings and endings; suffering and glory, sorrow and joy, death and resurrection and what-not. Oh, there is so much more of the “what-nots” of Life. Do not limit yourself to what you have experienced, to what you have known. Go on to the “what-nots”. Experience more of the effervescence, the springing forth, the “newness of life” (cf. Romans 6:4). Experience more of Christ, “grow in the grace and knowledge of Him (cf. II Peter 3:18). Know Him “in the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His Sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).

In one lifetime you can experience the whys, the wherefores and the what-nots. In one lifetime you can experience the Life of Christ and know Him in all the Glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Why do you tarry? Arise! Wherefore, let us go on to Perfection, to the Glory and What-not.

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