THE VANITY OF THIS WORLD'S WISDOM

The magnitude of sin can be seen in its effects upon mankind. Not only did it drive a wedge between God and His "offspring," it brought alienation and enmity between them. There is more than a gulf between God and man; more than distance between the created and the Creator! This is never more evident than in the area of understanding spiritual realities. The climactic revelation of this occurred when Christ came into the world. Here was God incarnate, and wisdom personified. The Savior was "FULL of grace and truth" (John 1:14), and on display before the sons of men. Grace and truth were not displayed in minimal portions in Jesus. He was "full" of them! Real wisdom will discern Him and submit to Him! Valid understanding will comprehend the reality of the matter, "God with us."

But this did not occur. Instead, earth's wisdom at its apex rejected the Lord's Christ, putting Him to death. The variance sin inducted was revealed in the world's conflict with Jesus! This world's wisdom clashed with the enfleshed wisdom of God!

Paul refers to this clash in his discourse about the vanity of the world's wisdom. "And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, 'THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.' For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Cor 2:4-10, NASB).

The knowledge of this circumstance determined how the Apostle preached. He did not employ the wisdom of men to carry the precious message, because it had been proven unsuitable as a vehicle of Divine utterance. The wisdom of this world, like its princes, is "passing away." As such, it can never be merged with the wisdom of God!

Behold the reasoning of the Spirit. When confronted with the incarnate "wisdom of God," the princes of the world saw nothing of value. He was hidden from them. But there was more to the matter than that. Although the world's most astute could not see the Wisdom, they could sense the enmity of it. It was not merely different, it was in opposition to them. That is why they "crucified the Lord of glory."

Here was worldly wisdom at its best, and it "killed the Prince of life." No wonder Paul refused to buttress his message with the unacceptable props of this world's wisdom! He saw the conflict of worldly wisdom with that of God. One of the great tragedies of our time is the near-total absence of this knowledge among professed church leaders. How zealously the godly must pray the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2). Such laborers, you may be sure, will not speak in words that man's wisdom teaches.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise Your name for delivering me from this present evil world through Your Son. Now, in Jesus' name, assist me to communicate Your Gospel in words untainted by the world from which You have delivered me.

--MONDAY: SPIRITUAL RATIONALE --