Putting the I into WISDOM
The Christians who have most influenced me for good have had a fully functional familiarity with the book of Proverbs. They were (and are) able to take their considerable knowledge and apply it to their lives, providing both godly examples and godly advice. Join with me as each one of us endeavors to put the I into WISDOM. Let us seek to exemplify God’s wisdom in our daily lives. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
We continue our consideration of Proverbs 1:26-33, where the consequences of rejecting God’s wisdom are powerfully presented. Verses 28-30 are as frightening as any found in Scripture. These verses teach us that there is a time that is too late; there is a time limitation upon each one of us. Certainly we all know that this life on earth ends, “for it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27a); the time is uncertain, but a time is certain. Also, the Bible is clear that we may persist in being hardnecked (Proverbs 29:1) and hardhearted (Ezekiel 3:7). There is a point in each life – even though we do not know when that point is – that is determinative. Are death-bed conversions real? Yes, we know they are because of the thief on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:39-43). As bad as that man was (by his own admission), he had not hardened himself completely to the call of God. Others have, as Proverbs 1:28-30 makes clear. II Thessalonians 2:10-12 states the same thing, in sobering and stark absolute terms. Some speculate about a second chance of salvation in eternity. Some quote Joel 3:14: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” However, this is not a time when people are deciding about God; no, God is delivering His judgment based upon their previous decisions. Two applications of this teaching are crucial. First, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2b). We need Jesus as Savior right now. Second, as God’s people, we must redeem the time that we have left (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). Our time here is limited; we must be wise in time.