Good morning:
How do you know when a plan is good? It seemed like such a good idea to install a ceiling fan myself. I’d save money plus have the satisfaction of a successful DIY project. But it ended in frustration when I was staring up at a mass of dangling wires hanging from the ceiling without a clue of how they were to be connected. Is a plan bound to be good if others believe it is? Not necessarily. Many years ago a woman owned a few shares of Microsoft. Her financial advisor told her the company would never amount to anything and she should sell. She did. If she had held onto the shares, they would be worth a fortune today.
What about the much more important matters of life and death and what happens after this life? He can we be sure of what is good and true? If we can’t rely on our own reason in everyday earthly things, it would be foolish to trust reason or a “gut” feeling regarding our standing with God. If advisors and “trending” movements are not always right, why would we want to put our eternal confidence in them?
James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Even if what God says seems foolish to the ears of our reason, and the world at large thinks it’s ridiculous, we can trust it as absolute truth. “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). In praying to His heavenly Father, Jesus affirmed, “Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
What the world dismisses as foolishness is really the highest wisdom. “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor. 1:21, 24-25). Those who crucified the Lord thought it was the most ridiculous thing in the world to trust in a man who couldn’t even save himself. Yet by His death Jesus rescued all humankind from sin and eternal death.
The world hasn’t changed. Most people today regard it as total foolishness to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior. Maybe a coworker, classmate, or friend has told you that, maybe more than once. They might think it’s a complete waste of time to go to church to hear the Word and praise the living Lord. Don’t let that sabotage your confidence. Never doubt the wisdom of believing in Jesus. Our own reason and plans may often be more foolish than wise, but we can always count on God’s Word. Nothing is more sure. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). No matter what the world around us thinks and does, may we live today with the faithful determination of Joshua: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” (Josh. 24:15).
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m., Choir is at 9:10 a.m., Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., and adult Bible class at 9:45 a.m.
