rejecting God’s wisdom

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

Proverbs 1:29-31

When people turn their backs on God’s wisdom, here is what they really lose: 1) True knowledge. Without God’s perspective knowledge is limited, warped, and corrupted by sin. It is more than incomplete though. It is inaccurate, deceiving, and false. Only God is the source of truth. 2) Respect for a holy God. Without God, we will worship the wrong things because human beings are hard-wired to worship AND WE WILL! The rule of false gods always destroys and disappoints. 3) True direction. Without the counsel of God’s Word, life choices are a pathetic roll of the dice. Sometimes a random good choice may occur. But often our choices turn out to be pain-filled and destructive because they are based on our own sinful desires. 4) Course correction. There is no way to get back to a true path when the internal GPS is hard-wired in sin to lead us to hell.

What happens when God and His offer of wisdom is rejected may not look so bad to people at first. God will let sinners have their way. And they will eat of the fruit of their choices and have their fill. And it may temporarily seem to satisfy. Until they want more and realize mortality and the grave are the only end in sight. Why are so many of the mega-rich obsessed with finding eternal health and youth? Could it be because all the wealth and power only shows their inability to avoid the inevitable? It is truly spiritual suicide to reject God.

There is a way out. Wisdom still calls out to any who will listen. The gospel of Jesus Christ is offered in the public square. True knowledge is in Jesus. A holy worship of God is found in belief in the gospel message. God’s loving direction comes to those who repent of sin and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. We can receive God’s Holy Spirit and find direction in God’s Word. Our lives are made holy and we can correct our ways through knowing Jesus, following scripture, and yielding to the Holy Spirit’s work in us. Wisdom’s voice still leads us to Jesus!