Meditations On Faith - 6

Faith sees over and beyond the heads of men.

`My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.' (1 Corinthians 2:4)

We who are numbered among a people who have a strange inclination to worship the great and wise people of earth would do well to carefully consider these words of Paul. Do we idolize the great sports personalities of earth? Do we pay undue homage to the learned and highly degreed? Are we taken up with the lives and the lifestyles of the super-rich? Do we have more to say about a great preacher than we do about the meek and lowly Lamb of God?

As Christians we are called upon to respect all people, but our respect should always be tempered by the fact that `all have sinned and fall short of the glory (character) of God.' (Romans 3:23)

While there are times when we can acknowledge the achievements of men, and times when sincere applause would not be out of order, these moments of recognition do not alter the fact that `the whole world is a prisoner of sin' and that, as such, `there is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.' (Galatians 3:22; Ecclesiastes 7:20)

No matter who the individual may be, therefore, let our praise of man be tempered by the underlying fact that . . . `the nature of man is in opposition to the divine will, depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God expressed in His law.' (ST 06-09-90)

We do need to recognize, however, that very often the problem lies not so much with the achievements of the `great and wise,' but with the unwarranted veneration that we shower upon them - to their hurt and ours. This veneration of man can be a dangerous pitfall along the pathway of faith - for faith is only ever developed while our eyes are fixed on Jesus, it cannot be developed while our eyes are fixed on man.

`The jewels of truth lie scattered over the field of revelation; but they have been buried beneath human traditions, beneath the sayings and commandments of men, and the wisdom from heaven has been practically ignored; for Satan has succeeded in making the world believe that the words and achievements of men are of great consequence.' (FE 188)

Truly, in the light of Calvary, of what value are the words and achievements of men - except as they cast our minds back to that awesome event? Hence the admonition of Paul . . .

`Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.' (Hebrews 12:2)

`Jesus is the living center of everything. Put Christ into every sermon. Let the preciousness, mercy, and glory of Jesus Christ be dwelt upon; for Christ formed within is the hope of glory.' (Letter 15, 1892)

And the more we keep Jesus before the mind's eye, the more we will come to realise that . . .

`The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.' (1 Corinthians 1:25)

James puts the matter of human wisdom in its true perspective. He leaves us with no doubt that the truly wise will not glory in their academic achievements, and they will most certainly not expect others to honour them because of their "higher learning."

`Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.' (James 3:13)

Clearly, therefore, the truly wise will be noted, not so much for their learning, but for their obvious humility, and their good lives. After all, if we all have depraved human natures, and we all are guilty of the death of the Son of God, who of us can step up onto a platform and declare that we are worthy of praise, veneration or admiration?

The only thing that I can find to applaud in me is my Saviour who lives in me.

`The wisdom and the power of the gospel that changes people's lives comes from above, from God, not from humans. The implication of this is that we must be careful not to try to substitute human wisdom and power for the authentic power of God.' (Disciple's Study Bible)

`In choosing men and women for His service, God does not ask whether they possess worldly wealth, learning, or eloquence. He asks, "Do they walk in such humility that I can teach them My way? Can I put My words into their lips? Will they represent Me?" God can use every person just in proportion as He can put His Spirit into the soul temple. The work that He will accept is the work that reflects His image. His followers are to bear, as their credentials to the world, the ineffaceable characteristics of His immortal principles.' (AG 267)

`My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.' (1 Corinthians 2:4)