Those Who Are Perishing

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Those Who Are Perishing

It is strange  how those who will perish  from this world  actually think they are quite wise  and in-the-know.     They strut their stuff  with pride,  feeling they are in control  of their lives  and that nothing can conquer them.     They plan to do things their way  come hell or high water.     They spout off  all sorts of philosophies,  claiming that is where real wisdom lies.      But,  they are totally blind  to the almighty truths  of God’s word  and power.

The perishing refuse  to honestly compare the power  of God’s word  to the weaknesses  of this world’s philosophies  that they hold to.     God’s word shows  how God fulfilled all  of His promises  of a Savior  that were made hundreds and thousands of years  before Christ was born.     Worldly philosophies can’t do anything  of that sort.     Worldly philosophies  can only make wise sounding sayings  that are either quite lame  in reality,  or are a product  of the common sense conscience  God has given us.

Clever sayings won’t save anyone eternally — even if it contains  some truth.     Since we are all born  in sin,  we need something much more substantial  than a mere man’s thoughts  to make us really right  in how we live.     If we honestly want  to be wise  and do things right  in this world,  we need to study and meditate  on God’s word,  to see how it shows  for a fact  that Jesus truly is the Savior,  who takes away absolutely all  of our sins,  and gives us the gift  of eternal life  when we believe in Him.

When we seriously study God’s word,  and see how God has worked mightily  down through the ages  to prove His love  for us  in Jesus Christ,  our eyes will be opened  to many wondrous marvels  of how God is able  to do exactly what He promises.     If our eyes are actually open  to all that has taken place  through history,  we will be able  to see the difference  between God’s power  and man’s mere attempt  to be wise.     The apostle Paul talks  about God’s wisdom  in comparison  to man’s wisdom  in 1 Corinthians 1:18-21,

For the word  of the cross  is to those who are perishing  foolishness,  but to us  who are being saved  it is the power of God.    For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom  of the wise,   
And the cleverness  of the clever  I will set aside.”

Where is the wise man?     Where is the scribe?     Where is the debater  of this age?     Has not God made foolish  the wisdom of the world?     For since  in the wisdom of God  the world  through its wisdom  did not come  to know God,  God was well-pleased  through the foolishness  of the message preached  to save those who believe.

Paul quoted Isaiah 29:14   when he spoke  of the destruction  of the wisdom  of the wise.     Isaiah lived more than 700 years before Paul,  and those words actually came true  when Jesus Christ was born.     None of those wise and clever men were able  to prophesy  about a Savior  in many details  and have it all come true  in one Man.     That is how God’s wisdom destroyed  man’s so-called wisdom.     So,  what should the worldly wise man say to that — if he has any sort  of real wisdom?

If that wise man  was really wise,  he should be able to see  that Jesus is the Savior  of the world  and that all  of God’s word is truth — because it is all proven  through fulfilled prophecies — the one man,  Jesus Christ is the fulfillment  of many prophecies.

But,  the worldly wise man says nothing  of the sort.     Instead, he wants  to direct everyone’s attention  to himself and try to make himself famous  by coming up  with more foolish,  clever sayings.     Even though none  of his clever sayings can compare  to what God has done  in Christ,  the worldly wise man will continue  his pretentious wisdom — that has no power.

But, Paul notes  that God Almighty was  “well-pleased”  to preach a gospel  of salvation  that is imagined  to be  “foolishness”  by the world.     In God’s wisdom,  we all need  to learn wisdom.     We are His creation  and He knows that we need  to learn  to make wise decisions  in this crooked world.     God will not force His word  upon us — but He sets these choices  before us.     He clearly shows us  the differences  between His way  and the world’s way.     Then,  He tells us to choose.

All this is because,  “The foolishness  of God  is wiser  than men,  and the weakness  of God  is stronger than men.”     1 Corinthians 1:25

Let’s us look  at what God has set before us.     Hopefully,  we will choose what is eternally good.

Seeing God’s wisdom,  love  and power,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord, You have been so faithful  in keeping all  of Your promises  of salvation  in Jesus Christ.     Let us draw ever nearer  to Your side  to learn more  about Your love for us.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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