JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons

Does it matter what the world thinks? 1Corinthians 1:18-25

 

1 Corinthians 1:18

 NASV,1 Corinthians 1:18 " For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. and :19 For it is written,"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the cleaver I will set aside." :20 Where is the wise man?Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? :21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to  know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. :22 For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; :23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, :24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. :25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

When we look at those who heard the message of the Gospel of Jesus we see there are few who were rich among the followers or disciples who followed Him. Why? When we look at those who are following or are His Disciples today they are not usually the rich as the world looks at riches. Why? When we look at many websites, college studies, books and even listen to songs and far too many new age pastors we hear the foolishness of the world and we hear that foolishness disclaiming the wisdom and truth of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. Why?

As the word of God says it is because they do not have real wisdom. Their wisdom is of the world which is passing away. Their wisdom is but foolishness and transient. We see people fighting to take down anything that speaks of God, the Bible or Jesus wherever it may be found outside of the inside of a church and that will be happening one day. People in the world are offended by the message of the cross. The message that we are all sinners elicits statements like, "Your just judgemental." or, "Your not living in reality." When in reality it is the truth and those who do not accept it are perishing as God says. It is not me who says it, it is the God of the Universe who has said it.

Why would people ignore His message? Why would they make fun of those who are following Jesus, who have accepted the message of the cross? I think it is because of sin. I think it is pride. We want to believe what is known as pure science (yet there are those who believe in theories like Darwin's Theory of Evolution without anything that substantiates it). Yet the science of Archeology continues to prove the stories, places and facts of the Bible. Which takes it back to what I think is the problem; pride. We do not want to be told we are sinners. We want to think we are wonderful and good. When none are good, no not one. Only the Father is good and because we are sinners He sent His Son to die on the cross to save us from sin. Now why would He do that if we were already good? He would not have to would He? Nope, He would just take everyone to heaven when they died.

The only book to talk about going to heaven is the Bible and yet there are worldly people who think they are going to heaven because they do good things like serve in the soup line or cloth the poor or save children from lives of drudgery. Those things are good to do yet they do not save anyone from hell. Only accepting Jesus' message of the cross and the Gospel of Jesus saves us from our sin and takes our pride away.

The message of the cross offends those who reject the Word of God and want to do what they want to do because they want to do it (or believe what they want to believe).  Reminds me of my children when they were small. When they wanted something whether I told them it was good for them or not, they still wanted it and sometimes they took it and had to suffer the consequences. If people continue to ignore God calling them then they will have to suffer the consequences and for some that will be a life of misery until they come to Him through Jesus on the Cross; for others they will refuse until they die and go where they choose and because they did not choose heaven they choose by default, hell. After all why would they go to heaven, where all will be praising God and bringing Him glory, when they didn't  want to be in His presence when they were alive?

I often wonder at people that accuse Christians of being judgemental by saying sinners who do not repent and accept the Gospel of Jesus will not enter into heaven when they do not want Him here. Like the child who is offered a treat and says, "No!" and then when the treat is gone they want it. Heaven is the reward of those who serve God through the Cross. It is for those who give Jesus their sins and take on His righteousness. Heaven is for those who believe the Word of God and are foolish for Him. God's word may be foolishness to the world yet it is the strength of those who have put on the righteousness of Jesus by accepting the Way of the Cross. Will you?

Abba, Thank You for the message of the Cross and for loving us so much You have offered us the reward of the Cross. Thank You for adopting us as Yours through Your Son Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross. Thank Your for Your wisdom and for freeing us from our sin. We accept Your Son Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross and pray You will send Your Holy Spirit to guide us and strengthen us in Your Word. In Jesus' precious name. Amen

Rebishka