Have you ever noticed that we have an affinity of grouping things in threes? For example, there was the movie, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” In the “Wizard of Oz,” we find the famous line, “Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh my!” Artists use the “Rule of Thirds” in their photos and paintings. Designers often group items in sets of three. Somehow, we resonate with the concept of “threes” and “thirds.” Even the Apostle Paul leverages the “threes,” “Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13)
Numerologists, go crazy!
Is it any wonder, then, that within our faith we have the doctrine of the Trinity? YES, it is!
I guess it is conceivable that our attraction toward things of three could somehow be related to the truth of One God who eternally exists in three Persons. Each Person (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is God (not a god but GOD). Each Person is a distinct being and individual in whom all the characteristics and qualities of God are fully present and manifest. There is One God. This One God is not a committee of the Three. God is a singular, whole, divine Being.
So, it is conceivable that our attraction toward things of three could be related to this truth, but this truth is so complex -beyond the ability of humans to fully comprehend - that I really doubt the two are connected. But it is an interesting observation.
Here are a couple more interesting and infinitely more important observations about the Trinity.
1. The truth of the Trinity is not explicitly taught in Scripture. This does not minimize its importance and truthfulness. We learn of this truth by the careful observation of the Scriptures, noting how God has revealed Himself. In the Old Testament, the stress is clearly on the oneness of God (Deut. 6:4). Given the polytheistic religions of the nations around ancient Israel, this is not surprising. This one God, Yahweh, is the Creator and sustainer of all things and holds ultimate authority over all things.
This is part of the reason the religious leaders of Jesus’ day struggled to understand His claims to be “one with the Father” (John 10:30). How dare Jesus claim to be God! However, with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the early church learnt that while there is just one God, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
2. The truth of the Trinity is clearly taught in Scripture. “Wait a minute. You just said the truth of the Trinity was not explicitly taught in Scripture.” The key word here is “explicitly.” There is no Biblical text that says, “There is One God who eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” However, the New Testament especially affirms the truth of the Trinity, clearly delineating their absolute equality in every sense possible. One of the clearest statements of this truth is 2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
3. The truth of the Trinity reminds us that God is God and we are not (Eccl. 5:1-3). Perhaps Isaiah said it best:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9)
Faith in God does not require that we understand everything about God. After all, how can a finite, created mind ever hope to understand that of the infinite Creator? We can’t. But that is OK. Here is what is really important.
While we cannot understand God, we can know Him. In fact, He craves for us to know Him (not merely know about Him). His greatest passion is for us to ENJOY (!) a restored relationship with Him. We may be able to reverse engineer a lot of things. God is not one of them.
While life will confuse us, God is never confused. He has never relinquished His authority over all things. Yes, there is rebellion against Him and dysfunction in how His created order now works, but He is still God. Even when our life experience is at its worst, God is still God. Even the ugliest moments are still lived in His presence.
The truth of the Trinity is not a riddle to be solved. There is great value in rolling it around in our minds, to make it a point of thoughtful meditation and consideration. The end of that process should be one of quiet submission to this One God, confidence in His goodness, and a commitment to exclusive loyalty to Him and His Kingdom.
Know therefore today,
and lay it to your heart,
that the LORD is God in heaven above
and on the earth beneath;
There Is No Other. (Deut. 4:39 ESV)
