A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

 

Life here and hereafter is about choices. 

I think of the scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” where the Knight who guarded the Holy Grail—the cup Christ drank from in the Last Supper—beckoned, “choose wisely,” for the wrong cup would bring death and the other life. The American businessman working with the Nazis drank from the golden, gem encrusted, glittering cup. When he was doomed to death, the Knight said, “He choose—poorly.”  Indiana Jones chose the simple cup of a Carpenter. “You have chosen wisely,” was the Knight’s affirmation. 

The wise choice for us is God’s way.  On the surface, it may not have all the sparkle of the world’s splendor, but it will prove of enduring radiance in glory!

THE SUMMONS OF WISDOM, (8:1-11). It is a blessing to us in our senseless ways that God takes the initiative in calling us with a summoning word. Left to ourselves, we would follow the path of folly—as sheep to the slaughter—but, God is gracious and reaches out to us. In our natural state, we would give ourselves to the pursuit of trash, packaged as treasure. Wisdom beckons us to true wealth.

THE SUCCESS BY WISDOM, (8:12-36). Only a fool would determine to fail in life. The problem is that in our depraved mind, we are proud and pursue a perverse pathway. If we would humble ourselves before God and seek His way, we will find the success He means for us. There awaits eternal wealth and everlasting worth—all we need here and abundance hereafter!  Wisdom’s attributes are akin to Deity’s, for they are of Divine origin.

THE SHELTER IN WISDOM, (9:1-18). Wisdom builds a house that is secured and supplied, (v.1-6). 

It shelters us from the scoffer, (v.7-12). The scoffer is resistant to reproof. His questions are not from genuine desire for wisdom, but to generate questions in the witness and undermine faith. If you are well-acquainted with Biblical bread, you will have no appetite for forbidden fruit. You will sniff it out before you bite into it.  If you chew on it, you might spit it out, but you are more likely to swallow some of it. I do not have to taste dung to know it is not chocolate pudding!

It shelters us from the seductress, (v.13-18). Folly is personified as a prostitute. She offers you a night to “live it up,” but her bed is that of the dead!  I think of these words in the Eagles’ pop song, “Hotel California:”

    Mirrors on the ceiling
    The pink champagne on ice
    And she said, “We are all just prisoners here
    Of our own device"
    And in the master's chambers
     They gathered for the feast
     They stab it with their steely knives
     But they just can't kill the beast
 

    Last thing I remember, I was
    Running for the door
    I had to find the passage back
    To the place I was before
    "Relax, " said the night man
    "We are programmed to receive
    You can check out any time you like
    But you can never leave"

As a teacher of mine was fond of saying, “A word to the wise is sufficient.”  Let us listen to wisdom for it is a matter of life and death!

WASTED WORDS

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs‬ ‭9:7-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

There was a pastor who became an undertaker. When they asked him why, he answered, “Now, when I straighten them out, they stay straight!”  I can sympathize.  The truth is, however, that we don’t have to straighten everyone out.  That is the work of the Spirit.  You cannot make a blind man see or a deaf woman hear.  Yet, we may be the personality type who insists on trying.

Jesus put it this way, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matt.‭7:6‬). Sometimes, it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.  The scoffer is not one who needs more information.  They have already heard the truth and have rejected it—militantly and stridently.

Some preachers would have been better being pugilists.  They continually climb into the ring with their verbal fists up.  Saying the right thing, the wrong way, the wrong time, to the wrong person, is still wrong. Often, the root of our relentless stream of rebuke is a motive to be right.  We may be more concerned to win an argument than to win a soul—a point of pride.

Christ’s counsel was, “And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (‭Luke‬ ‭9:5‬). Words are worth too much to waste.  Go on to the next person—they might listen.  Instruct the wise and they will become more wise and love you—even if you rebuke them.

There are times we must stand up and speak to the scoffers.  It is not so much about them as reinforcing our own convictions and to let the weak and wavering who are listening to them know that they need not be swayed by their folly.  May God give us discernment to know when to speak up and when to shut up.  Words are worth too much to waste.  Sow Gospel seed on receptive soil if you can, and do not cast it on rocks intentionally.  Opportunity is fleeting.

Regeneration is a supernatural work.  If I can talk someone into believing something, someone else can talk them out. There is a place for apologetics, but there is also a time to say our piece and move on. The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit (1 Cor.2:14). It is foolishness to them.  God does use the power of the Gospel we share to do a miracle, but in the final analysis, a miracle is what it takes—not our brilliance and eloquence.