Mr worldly Wise!

(Matthew 19:30) “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

It will be good for us to remember that God’s ways are far above our ways and that we must learn to take up our cross on a daily basis and follow Him. We need to be reminded of this truth as our minds are fickle and need renewing. I am often left standing in awe as I gaze into this magnificent plan of my great Jehovah, so many principles that are foreign to all of the world’s wisdom. That is why the wise will be caught at their own game as God mocks them in their foolishness as they say that there is no God. Or they imply that only the weak and foolish would believe in an unseen God. A people that live for the here and now and yet they make provision for loved ones in the form of death policies, proviso is made for life after death. Mr Worldly Wise does not ignore paying a life insurance premium while alive on earth but will casually turn a blind eye to making stipulation for the life here after.

On the back of this kind of reasoning Paul then pens with boldness the following; (1Corinthians 1:19-20) “for it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” And how has He done that? Ingeniously though a simple message of hope in and through His magnificently ever Loving Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. (1Corinthians 1:21) “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” The gospel is a simple message that does not involve one of Einstein’s discoveries that proves the theory of relativity. It is a simple message of how God Himself became a man (God in the flesh) and He live on earth under the ruling authorities yet without sin and then was judge as one who transgressed the law; He was falsely accused under the rule of Pontius Pilate and was sentence to death by crucifixion. He died, paying the price for sinners on a cruel Roman cross and yet throughout His whole life He never once broke God’s law. He lived a sinless life so that sinners who found repentance could escape the upcoming judgement. Every single human being without immunity will be privy to God’s judgement in one form or another, some finding eternal life, yet many being ushered into death and a life or rather a never-ending death of total separation from light and God who is light. Do you remember fearing the dark as a child; well I tell you that was child’s play! The realm of hell is real and will play its part in eternity. Shake the sleep from your eye you sluggard; look at creation and how all things have been wonderfully made. How brilliant must the creator then be? Intensely and skilfully leaps and bounds above creation and all that has been created, especially mankind. Why does man with arrogance then serve the creation by endeavouring to save it and yet they disregard the one who has the power to destroy it with a simple word. O foolish man, it is only a fool who says there is no God. Consider the power that God holds in the palm of His hand. This breath-taking entity that has no beginning nor end, the great I AM. So many options available to Him, He could have chosen to create and script whatever He liked, as He is God. He answers to no-one! And yet He chose to send His Son to die for sinners while they were still his enemies, what character! My brilliant heavenly Father I stand in awe when I consider you lustre. How will you then escape O man if you neglect so great a gift in and through this gospel message, the message that Christ came to die for sinners and not for the self righteous? If you realise that you are a sinner and feel that God will not receive you because of your great sin, you are wrong my friend, He came because of your sin, repent call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Richard, Brett, Warren and Trevor do you hear the voice of God calling you name, do you? It will be a sad day if you neglect so great a salvation.

This now brings us to our scripture text; “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” You see the wise will not be so wise in eternity for many will enter through the broad gate; (Matthew 7:13) “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Yet many of the poor and unsuccessful in this life will be first in heaven, they will be clothed in white garments. They will be called sons of God. As for Mr. Worldly Wise he will be last and for all eternity will find what he once thought was resourceful will now be hurtful as God judgement is his reward; (Matthew 8:12) “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

How then has God silenced the critic and the “Worldly Wise”? I love the simplicity of God’s plan and yet it is so profound that it will silence every mouth that opposes this great God. It is by the foolishness of preaching that God has channelled His power. What do I mean? You may be thinking, surely, I am not saying that men are vessels that have the ability to wield God’s power at will. Obviously Not! But I am convinced by scripture and echo the words of Paul; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” So then God has chosen to use His power in and through the Gospel, so it is this message that has the power to bring those who are spiritually dead to life. Do you see the brilliance, do you see the wisdom? It is not some theory of relativity that a mankind hunger after in their quest for brilliance but brilliancy is the power God uses in and through the gospel message to create life. Therefore we must not be ashamed of the gospel because it has the power to convert sinners in repentance to God. Do not be wise in your own eyes. We must trust an obey God, and it will go well with our souls. May we all find boldness to declare this great message of hope that once found us dead in our trespass and sin and yet we now live because of our great Saviour. Remember to love others in sharing our hope with them and per adventure that God would grant them repentance. May grace abound in our lives today.

Signing off

Tyrone