Living Wise, Living Well – 04/18/21

There is a great difference between the way we want the world to work and the way it actually works.  One reason for the way it works the way it does is because God designed it to work that way.  Humans observed patterns and explored these patterns in an attempt to understand the God who they believed originated the universe and the field of science was born to understand these patterns (Rom 6:20).  To a lesser degree than design is desire.  In God’s desired creation he desires humans to live a certain way for their accumulative good.  God reveals his desire so that humanity can live well through this revealed wisdom.  Due to the giving of free will, God knows his desires can and will be thwarted by the will of human desire that disbelieves they know how it works best or outright rejects God’s desire for how it will work best.  They substitute God’s wisdom for personal wisdom.

Our struggle, sometimes actions and consequences seem to hold a certain pattern but at other times the pattern falls apart.  In a perfect world where everyone is living God’s wisdom, God indicates certain outcomes will happen.  Due to the reality that not everyone is living according to God’s wisdom, personal selfishness upends the apple cart making mess of life which often causes us to question God and his wisdom.  It is not God that causes the confusion but rather self-interested humans who hinders God’s desires by trusting their limited perspective.

Jesus came to give us fullness of life, but it is double-sided.  Side 1: Through the established pattern, Jesus fulfills our need for reconciliation and provides forgiveness of sin.  Side 2: Through our desire for the full life, we abandon our limited human wisdom for God’s ultimate wisdom.  The rejection of God’s wisdom by others will impact and limit our satisfaction in this life.  The promised full life will be ultimately obtain at Jesus’ return.  Blessed are those who hold on till the end. Mt 24:12-13