2022 Archives

  Wisdom might be defined simply as the ability to utilize knowledge (what you know) to achieve a desired goal.  But one’s goals are certainly affected by his perspective—his world view.  So, can wisdom be the means of both good and evil?  Can we ascribe the word wisdom when a selfish person utilizes his so called “acquired knowledge” to reach demented goals?  Is he a wise man?  NO, of course not; this is not wisdom but craftiness or cunning.  Wisdom (as it is defined by God, rather than man) is intrinsically good.  “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (1 Corinthians 3:19)” “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. (Proverbs 21:30)

  God speaks directly to those who boast of “wisdom” associated with a world view that is inconsistent with His Word.  “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool [in his own eyes], that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God… (1 Corinthians 3:18–19a)”

  The opposite of being wise is to be a fool, and God has much to say about the fool as well: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)”  “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. (Proverbs 18:7)

  If you would be wise, you must first understand, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)”  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)  The substance of true wisdom can not be known apart from God.  “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)”  As in every endeavor of life God would be pleased to help you. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)”

  Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He began to teach almost exclusively in parables.  A parable is a simple story laid along side a life event that illustrates a moral lesson or spiritual principle that applies to that event.  Someone has said, “A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning.”  

  Many of the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day had closed their ears to the truth that He taught, to prevent their falling from the ranks of their self-acclaimed organization of religious achievers.  They believed they had a monopoly on truth, and could learn nothing from this young Rabbi, Jesus.  Because they had so determined not to believe, God imposed upon them a Judicial Blindness so they would no longer be confronted with spiritual truth.

  When Jesus was asked why he had resorted to parables in his teaching, He said, “…Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:11–16)”

  What God wanted to do for them, and what He wants to do for you is offered through the medium of faith.  If you want to know what God has to say, you must first be willing to obey it.  Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)”  Your choice not to consider what God has to say will be cause for eternal regret.  …behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

  We have all seen a father stand over the shoulders of his fledgling son, placing his hands on a bat atop his son’s little hands, encouraging him with the words, “Keep your eyes on the ball.”  This father knows that with his eyes and mind in the bleachers, or on his friend in right field, his son will not likely have the opportunity to make the trek around the bases.  To play ball well requires both natural ability and acquired skill, but neither is enough if one’s eyes wander or his mind is not in the game.  

  Several times in the Word of God, the Christian life is compared to a sporting event; being successful and productive in life requires the same determinations as being a winning athlete.  For example, the scriptures reveal that the believer’s life is like running a race.  “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1Corinthians 9:24)”  In this race called life it is important that we are constantly “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)”  The word “author” here means He is the Originator, the one who established this path of faith that leads to God.  The word “finisher” means Completer, or Perfecter; He is the One who, at the end of life will present to you the things you have hoped for, but have not yet seen.

  The path of life is long and sometimes foreboding.  It is crucial that we keep our mind and eyes fixed on Him who, in His own earthly pilgrimage was  “…touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)”

  Perhaps this is all new to you.  Our culture, our rebellious nature, and Satan, the enemy of our souls, have blinded your mind and eyes to the truth.  Very simply God says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23),” and then He says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)”

  Imagine embarking upon the great adventure of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane to plummet toward the earth at bone crushing speeds only to break your fall at the last moment by deploying a parachute, tightly packed by a complete stranger into a well worn backpack and strapped to your posterior.  While in the plane, approaching the so-called “target” (as if there were a great bullseye painted on the ground which the plane’s crew intends to hit with their soft projectile—you), your life starts to pass before your eyes.  To make matters worse, your instructor seems to have had too much sugar, or something, for breakfast and is in a rather giddy mood.  He jokingly encourages you to “enjoy your final descent” and “be sure to pull the ripcord before the impact.”  You start to second guess your quest for the ultimate adrenaline rush, thinking rather that the inherent “fight or flight” response that you are presently experiencing may just suffice to satisfy your present thirst for adventure.  Maybe you’re not ready for this!

  While we are on the subject of being ready, and with all jesting aside, there is an unavoidable event that comes to all mankind that can be quite foreboding if one is not “Ready.”  I am talking about death, and that which lies beyond the perimeters of our physical perception.  The Bible says that you are a living soul, and while your body will wear out, your soul will never die.  “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)”  And then God has informed us that, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)

  This is no joking matter; you need to know that you are ready for the great adventure that awaits you at the end of your path.  Those who are ready have had their sins forgiven, and are enjoying a relationship with God that will last forever.  Those who are not ready are missing out on the joys of knowing God now, and will suffer the eternal consequences of their unforgiven sin in a realm without God.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved… (Acts 16:31)”

  To a child who, after secretly acquiring a cookie from the cookie jar without being seen, finds himself holding on with white knuckles to keep from plummeting from the kitchen counter to the cold hard floor far below, Mom may be a welcomed sight—a deliverer of sorts.

  To a business man who has fallen on hard times and is facing certain financial ruin if he cannot somehow pay another round of bills, and survive the few weeks that lie between him and his next big contract, a rich uncle has the potential of becoming a great deliverer.

  To a nation, such as our own, that is spiraling out of control civilly, economically, morally and spiritually, nothing could be more satisfying than the sudden entrance of a deliverer—someone who could orchestrate a fix before the inevitable dissolution of our beloved, blood bought republic.

  Threatening situations with disastrous consequences are measured by the strength, knowledge, resources and abilities of those who experience them.  Some situations would be threatening only to a child, while other developments can cause a nation to tremble.  The strength of the threat determines the needed caliber of the deliverer.  For some, Mom will suffice, while other deliverances will require more than a mere mortal.  They are God sized dilemmas and will require a God sized Deliverer.

  You should know that God has provided a one-size-fits-all Deliverer who is most commonly referred to as the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him, mankind may have access to their Heavenly Father (God) who, because of Christ, makes Himself available to the child, the business man, and even the nation who is faced with catastrophic and damning situations that arise in the civil, economic, moral and spiritual realms.  He is available on an individual basis to all who will come to Him by faith.  He says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)”