Seeing Through the Fog

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”
(1 Corinthians 13:12)

There’s something humbling in that verse. Paul—who wrote much of the New Testament and saw visions of heaven—still said “I know in part.” He admitted that what he understood here on earth was just a piece of the whole. That ought to make the rest of us breathe a little easier. If Paul didn’t have it all figured out, we shouldn’t expect to either.

Back in Paul’s day, mirrors weren’t like the ones we use now. They were made of polished bronze or copper. You could see your reflection, but it was blurred. Distorted. That’s how Paul described our current view of spiritual truth. We see something. We catch glimpses. But the full picture isn’t clear yet. Not while we’re on this side of eternity.

And it’s not because the truth isn’t there—it’s because our understanding is still being formed. God’s not hiding. But He’s revealing things in His timing, not ours. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us...” There are some things He keeps to Himself. That’s His right as God. And honestly, it’s a mercy. We wouldn’t know what to do with it all if He dumped it on us at once.

Paul goes on to say, “But then face to face.” One day, we’ll stand before Jesus and everything will be clear. No more spiritual fog. No more partial understanding. No more questions. The things we wrestled with will be plain. We’ll look into His eyes and finally see truth, not through a dim reflection, but face to face.

In the meantime, we walk by faith. We trust that the parts we don’t understand are still part of His perfect plan. Paul said in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” We’re not supposed to be able to trace all His steps. If we could, He wouldn’t be God.

And then there's this promise from 1 John 3:2:
“We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
That’s the moment Paul was talking about. When Christ returns, and we finally see Him clearly—just as He is—then we’ll understand. Until then, we hold on to what’s been revealed, and we wait in hope for the rest.

So if you ever feel like you’re not grasping it all… you’re not alone. None of us are. But we will. One day. Until then, we trust the One who sees everything clearly.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.

Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)