wisdom perspective
My heart is heavy. The world is crumbling. Sin is evasive and subtle but its effects are visible. You do not need to see it to know it exists, and it is wreaking as much havoc as possible, on Christians and non alike.
I wish I was Solomon. He was the wisest guy in all the world, and he would know how to handle every situation. He would see a situation and be able to speak into the very heart of the matter, perhaps like a modern day <insert insightful dude>.
I would like to think that I am building, or rather am being built up in wisdom and other good things. However, outside of my immediate seminarian context, when I take a look at the world, when I talk to my family and friends, when I engage, I see that I am still so lacking. I wish I could speak into various trying situations with the insight of Solomon, with the bold faith of King David, with the humility of Moses, and with the love of Christ. My heart cannot help but swell, but it does not find its release. I do not know how to articulate the intensity of all these thoughts, feelings, and concerns I have for people. I end up feeling like a hot air balloon that rapidly loses its air, and I begin to shrink in despair. It is as if the only thing I can do is cry to my Lord on the behalf of others.
It is difficult being made this way, with the ability to feel. In various situations, the intensity of feeling rises and rises with seemingly no regard for the vessel’s capacity. I’m sure we’ve all been in such situations, where we think there is no hope, the thought of recovery, or a life beyond this time has merely become a figment of our delusional imaginations. The darkness of hopeless sets in thick and there seems no more point in hoping, so we forfeit our hope in hope itself.
In my mind, things would be far better off if I acted like the aforementioned biblical characters. My actions would absolve or at least mitigate things. However, God made me this way. He made me dependent. He made me as one who depends on Him, and He desires just that- earnest humble dependence. Earnest, desperate, clinging, vital prayer. He desires me to not hope in a faith that is human and of myself, but in true faith, in true hope, to entrust all matters of heaven and earth unto Him. For He is not only the Creator of all things, He is the Sovereign Lord. He has given His own Son so that we may place all matters into His hands in faith, and wait in eager expectation of His good will being revealed in His timing.
So perhaps I was wrong in my earlier statement. It is not the ability to feel that makes life difficult, but rather the sin that runs rampantly. However, the sin in and around us is not ultimate. It is not winning nor will it win the day. Since Christ’s sacrifice, sin no longer had dominion. Now, sin is no longer sovereign. Rather, God in His sovereignty uses even sin to work according to His will. Sin has been conquered and is subordinate to God. This is implied in the understanding of the word “sovereign”, and once you prefix it to the word “Lord”, one who exercises dominion and rule over a territory, you begin to understand how small sin is in the face of our personal, loving, sovereign Lord. For God’s territory is not the Middle East. It’s the cosmos. It is everything. He is sovereign over his Creation, and we are a part of His creation. Each and everyone of us. Male and female. Sinner, saint. It does not matter where you are now, nor what you think of yourself and your past, present, future. It does not matter what feigned “hold” you believe sin has upon you. You only need to think as God will have you think, and you are His very precious creation. We are never without hope. If you believe we are without hope, then you do not truly know the meaning of Christ’s incarnation, earthly ministry, death and resurrection. Tell your hopeless thoughts to be gone in the light of the Gospel. Sin has no right nor say in your life. God is sovereign, and He loves you.
Your mind is blown when you come to realize the Sovereign Lord laid down His life for His own creation, a completely voluntary act of compassion and grace on His part. You cannot help but be overwhelmed by a mighty wave of awe, and you cannot help but thankfully worship in response. The hopelessness you once knew has been pierced by the light of Christ.
The verse that got me going on this whole thing is 1 Timothy 1:15-16 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”
There is wisdom of this world, and there is heavenly wisdom found in the Word of God. Believe it whole heartedly and be victorious. Hope has come. Immanuel, God is with us.
