A Lesson Taught To Wise Men Of The World (part #4 [final]
There have always been those who sought to set themselves up in the place of God. One of the greatest enemies of Truth has been the wisdom of men, for wisdom of man does not see God (1 Cor. 1:18-25).
Nevertheless, have you not noticed, in reading history, how God has abased the pride of wisdom? The mighty thoughts of Socrates are now all but utterly forgotten. Even a child in grade school today would laugh at the "wisdom" of Socrates. And to the "wisdom" of Socrates, we could add Aristotle and Plato.
One century passes and another century comes and a new set of philosophers rise up to refute their predecessors. At one time Sigmund Freud, a man who described himself as "a completely godless Jew," was considered to possess one of the greatest minds on earth but is now repudiated by so many great centers of learning. The Bible is like a stone that breaks into pieces human philosophy—it is like a battering ram against the thin walls of humanism (cf. Dan. 2:44-45).
God's Own People Have To Learn This Lesson
The Jews in the Promised Land forgot this lesson and bowed before other gods, and therefore Jehovah brought against them kings and nations. During the period of the judges "they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and Asherahs" (Judges 3:7). Israel forgot Jehovah and was carried away into Babylonian captivity.
What Israel did, we often do as well, i.e., forget that He is God, and beside Him there is none else. Sometimes we plan for the future without taking God into account (James 4:13-15). God teaches His people every day, by affliction, by trials, by the loss of the joys of His countenance, that He is God.
Conclusion
We must continue to look "unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2).
From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary we hear our Savior pleading with men to accept His kind and tender invitation (Matt. 11:28-30). Come to Calvary, and to Calvary's Lamb and learn from Him!
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
