Choose Wisdom Carefully

     Christ is the wisdom of God, and such wisdom is granted to citizens of the kingdom by way of the Holy Spirit.  The world cannot receive such wisdom because reality to the natural man depends on sight and physical contact.

     “…the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you…”  John 14:17

     The Spirit is invisible and dwells within the kingdom citizens.

     As Jesus was preparing to depart to His Father, He assured His disciples that His departure would bring peace to them because the Holy Spirit would continue God’s presence. 

     “…My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you...”  John 14:27

     At first the disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ words as He prepared to return to His Father. 

     “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”  John 16:16

     The disciples didn’t realize that the Holy Spirit was in essence the presence of Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus explained the coming events to them.

     “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”  John 16:20

     The world would celebrate the departure of Jesus inasmuch as He had caused great division.  They thought they would be rid of Him.  But the disciples would soon rejoice because the Holy Spirit would arrive and take Jesus’ place during the age of the church.

     Jesus then explained to His disciples that He could give them peace that the world couldn’t offer.  The world could only offer trouble.

     “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

     Jesus confirmed that the world had no power over Him, or the Holy Spirit.

     Paul also taught and compared the wisdom of believers to worldly wisdom.

     “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  But we speak the wisdom of God…ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew…” 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

     Paul scoffed at the vanity of worldly wisdom esteemed by the natural man; however, he warned believers to be on guard against deceit.

     “Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise…For it is written, ‘The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’”

1 Corinthians 3:18-19, 20b

     Natural man’s wisdom cannot please God.  Therefore, citizens of the world do not know God, nor can they be saved with their wisdom.  The only way to know God is to forsake worldly wisdom and take God at His word.

     “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”  1 Corinthians 1:25

     Natural man’s wisdom can be likened to human logic, or reasoning.  The problem for the natural man is that God and His mercy cannot be reasoned.  Faith in the unseen does not fit the definition of man’s logic.  So God established rules for the kingdom that make no sense to the world.

     “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen…”  1 Corinthians 1:27-28

     For example, while suffering for Christ’s sake is a gift of the Holy Spirit, such would be despised by the world.

     The conclusion of the matter?

          “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God …And not only that, but we also glory in tribulation…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:1, 3, 5