Folly is filled with many misconstrued perceptions, when evaluated it is easy to see this with certainty. It is all about a skewed perception of what in fact is an accurate analogy of righteousness. Proverbs is a book filled with snippets that helps with our skewed perceptions on what is actual righteousness in action. It is a book that unearths many precious gems and it is life-changing when applied into our lives. There is something for everyone and once one truth is realised another soon follows – It is a book filled with inexhaustible trinkets of wisdom…
However it is crucial that we do not look to the First Covenant as the final authority in our lives, as the Second Covenant is alive and well and in fact nullified the first and it calls us to service in a more excellent way; “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.” (Hebrews 8:6-7)
If the work of the cross, “Jesus in my place” is the hinge pin on where I actually stand before a Holy God then I need to find my rest in that reality. This in itself is an unnatural response that I look by default to resist; surely there is something I can do to add to the equation continual flickers through my mind. That type of reasoning nullifies the complete work of the cross and I then find myself looking for reward just as the children of Israel expected their remuneration once they sacrificed an animal as part of the First Covenant’s commandment.
They were taught that if they sacrificed a particular animal they would be forgiven for their sin. It was a perpetual lifestyle of continual sacrifice, the sinner always had to live by the Law of Moses to find acceptance from God as well as society (those chosen by God). It was up to the individual to work for their salvation. However with Christs sacrifice there now remains no more need for any other sacrifice, the penalty for sin has finally been paid for in full; “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) – The Fist Covenant was filled with instructions which exposed mankind’s sinful nature and highlighted that they needed a Saviour; “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Galatians (3:22-26)
Understanding this, the first building blocks that needs to be recognised and established in our lives is “repentance from dead works and faith towards God”. However, this can be easily forgotten when life and its challenges present themselves. Nothing changes for Joe Soap, but for the true born again Christian a new set of laws are now in play; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) – These are the basic fundamentals to the Christian faith, however the more I delve into this truth with it playing out in my life and those around me the more concerned I become. How many actually understand this as the pillar to our existence? There is much work to be accomplished.
If a designer finds a flaw in his invention will he not rectify whatever needs remedying in order to accomplish the desire result? Likewise it may be time to re-examine our commitment as Christians. I believe the book of Hebrews was written with that in mind. It is a book filled with many warnings to those saved out of the Land of Egypt; the reality for those saved out of slavery results with a sobering and an obvious conclusion; “Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:10-19) – How so? Did they not continually offer up sacrifices as the law commanded? And yet the majority of them never entered the Promised Land. There is much to be learnt from their grumblings.
The wisdom found in the book of Proverbs is truly filled with wonderful insight to any given situation, but if we disregard the work of the cross as foundational it will never produce the intended fruit required. A potter may mould a wonderful piece of pottery but without a keel it wont last very long when handled or expose to the elements. It needs heat to cure it, no differently to the Christian needing trials to produce the desired result. In other words without faith mingled together with God’s instruction into our lives we will miss the mark. This is very important for us to understand. It’s all about applying ourselves to the promises the Christian has in the finished work of the cross.
It would be impossible to lose something you never had. These are very sobering thoughts but needful for us understand. Examine yourselves, is the instruction. Have we armed ourselves with this understanding; “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1Peter 4:1-2)
Peace to all who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb
Signing off
Tyrone
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