As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly. Proverbs 26:11
We’ve all heard the famous quote, “The definition of insanity is making the same mistake over and over and expecting a different result.” It must have its roots in today’s graphic version of the illogical idea of continuing to beat your head against a wall (or beating a dead horse). My version of this wisdom was telling my softball players that if you keep practicing something the wrong way, you’ll get really good at doing it the wrong way.
I have to think there’s so many versions of this admonition because we humans struggle with both breaking bad habits and the fear of the unknown. You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s better to live with the pain you know than the pain you don’t.” If, as a Christian, this speaks to you let me put what you are doing into a faith perspective. You aren’t trusting God to take care of you. God doesn’t desire for you to live downtrodden and joyless. It’s why there’s proverbs like this one. It’s why Jesus came to us. He came to shake us up from our repeated follies. It was time to take a different approach to life.
Jesus told us to stop hating our enemies. Stop being filled with vengeance. Stop viewing others within a hierarchy. Stop giving over our bodies and minds to immorality. Stop hoarding our wealth. Stop being afraid. Stop returning to our own vomit. And start living for His Kingdom. Start looking towards the New Eden.
My friend, if you feel stuck ask yourself what do you keep doing over and over expecting a different outcome? Turn your issue over to God. Listen to His answer which will come either through His Holy Word or through the most unexpected way. And then take new action. Start a new habit. One that God will infuse with joy and goodness.
God, you know my habitual ways. You have a better plan for me. I lift up my repeated sins to you. Please show me a different path and guide me with your Spirit. Amen
“Love the Lord with all your minds heart and soul.” Matthew 22:37
It seems when we Christians talk about our faith these days it’s so frequently focused on feelings, emotions – “from the heart.” And while Jesus will ultimately be the judge of our heart’s true commitment, He also asks us to use the rest of our bodies to honor God. It’s not enough to feel God we need to know and obey God. Why? Because His Words are designed to guide us through this temporary life as best possible. We want to become skillful not just at making a living but in making a life that is in line with our Holy Father. Many of us have experienced life outside those guardrails – sometimes on a daily occurrence. When we are rash with our decisions or emotions, quick to be angry, quick to take up the latest idea or get rich scheme, quick to enter into relationships without good judgment, we easily find ourselves outside God’s protective ways.
The words “wise” and “wisdom” are used 125 times in the 31 chapters of the book of Proverbs. It sounds as though someone might be trying to get a point across to us! Wisdom literature in the Bible includes Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. But for this series I’ll be focusing only on Proverbs. You’ll notice there’s 31 chapters – perfect for a one month study of God’s messages to us about living life in His guardrails.
But first and foremost, we need a right relationship with our Creator. Meaning we accept God in His three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as one God who created the universe and everything in it. And that Jesus came as fully man and fully human to be the final, complete sacrifice to cleanse us of our sins. In this way we may come before God, our King, as righteous. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent in our lives. There is one way on this path and that one way is open to everyone who believes in Him.
Second, we have an assertion of a moral law operating in the world and there will be divine justice. None of which has to do with IQ, wealth or even education. There is an expectation by God to follow His moral laws. And everyone, believers and non-believers, will be judged upon their death.
If we do not have these two foundations, then the seeking of wisdom has no foundation itself. Without a moral King to guide us then we are guiding ourselves. And we know how well that usually turns out! Our selfish souls seek ease, seek comfort, seek pleasure above all. Without an understanding and acceptance of a final, universal judgment then what does it all matter? If you read back into ancient history, peoples without God sacrificed children to meet their desires. They performed all sorts of sexually immoral acts (especially on women) to please their desires. Murdered without out conscience. It was the formation of God’s people through Abraham and Moses that brought God’s moral law back down to earth. Setting us back on the path toward God’s future Eden on Earth.
And so, through people like King Solomon He spoke. The king had asked God for wisdom and it was granted (1 King 3:5-14). It is believed King Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs during his reign. The beauty of the proverbs selected for this book is that none of them are in conflict. All cultures have their sayings – quick summaries of lessons. But many times, they conflict with each other! (“Look before you leap!” vs “He who hesitates is lost.”) God’s words are never opposed to each other.
Toward the end of his reign, King Solomon turned to the folly he so frequently spoke to avoid and disregarded his own wisdom – proving we need to stay close to God at all times. In fact, God warned him when He gave Solomon this gift: “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will enlighten your days.” A good reminder to never take a day off from following God.
Proverbs are not promises. They are generalized statements of what is usually true. So, if you find a proverb that you want to disagree with first remind yourself that we humans are sinful people. And second, God seeks to bring us into His ideal world. We are practicing to live in our final home – the New Eden.
If you haven’t signed up to receive your 31 Days of God’s Wisdom, make sure you subscribe today! After entering your email information below, check your inbox for your confirmation link. Thank you for joining me on this journey and be sure to share with your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family!Blessings to you for wisdom, Kris
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.1 Corinthians 15:12-13
Among your friends and family there’s probably an atheist, fence-sitter, and a fog dweller. While you might understand the first of these two, let me explain the “fog dweller.” Someone who goes about their life not seeking answers to the big questions, not thinking about creation or death, not pondering if there is a heaven. Just getting by day to day. And if you don’t have some of each of these in your life, you might want to take up Jesus’ admonition to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Because when you do your own faith will be tested, honed and hewed.
Each of the letters in the Bible by the disciples gives us examples of believers struggling to define their faith and the true meaning of the gospel. The planted churches all were in places hostile to the message of Jesus – whether by Jews or pagans. So, developing believers that understood and stood firm in their faith was crucial.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.1 Cor 15:14
Ouch! That’s a pretty bold statement. And Paul had the experience to back it up. He himself saw the risen Jesus! And while the members of the church in Corinth believed in Jesus’ resurrection, they were surrounded by a culture that almost celebrated death. The Greeks of that time saw the body as a prison and welcomed death to escape from it. They laughed at the idea of resurrection. And friends, there’s people around you that believe the same thing today.
While sitting bedside of my quickly waning mother-in-law who was on hospice, I had to ask myself, do I really, I mean really believe in, not only Jesus’ resurrection, but the resurrection of the entire body of the church? Do I believe that Bev will be resurrected one day? And therefore, I should only mourn this time “in between” and find joy in the “not yet.”
A friend of mine shared with me once how her son came to her with horrible news about an acquaintance of his. Their newborn baby had unexpectantly died. Her son, of course, was distraught for his friend. And although the death of any loved one can bring so much pain, the death of a child seems doubly so. My friend contemplated how hard it must be to experience so much pain without a belief in God. Her son, a non-believer, was apoplectic. “How could a god do such a thing?” The great “why?” He doesn’t believe the promised hope for the future and therefore doesn’t enjoy any of the comfort God can provide.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Cor 15:19-20
You see friends, if I don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead then what’s really the point of ever quoting in John 3:16? True belief in a resurrection redemption is what brings true comfort. And times of great pain, especially death, are the ultimate opportunities to show the world we live as saved and redeemed people trusting wholly in the stated promises by Jesus.
I realized while in my Cherith I was a fog dweller when it came to the resurrection. I hadn’t thought a lot about it, mostly because I haven’t had many people around me pass away. But as God has fed me the solid food of His Holy Word, I’m coming to understand the whole picture. The beauty of living in the “between” of Jesus has come and is reigning and the “not yet” of the promised resurrection and the new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1). And while Elijah didn’t have the comfort of knowing the risen Christ he surely contemplated his death during those two years in the ravine. Thank God we have more than just the Old Testament prophets to lean on! We have the truth, the proven, historical truth of a risen King!
I recently was listening to an episode of The White Horse Inn podcast — which for those of you interested in getting some solid Christian food I highly recommend it. They’ve been discussing what “the good life” means to Christians. They describe us as living in the “here and not yet.” I love the analogy by one pastor as like the marriage steps. We once were single, now we are engaged but not yet married. We shouldn’t act like single people because we have a commitment to Christ. But the marriage isn’t yet consummated and we need to stay in the preparation stage until the date arrives. So, we work with our Holy Spirit wedding planner in inviting friends and family to this holy event. The guest list is expansive but yes, limited to those willing to come. We live for our betrothed, His thoughts and ways becoming our ways. And we dream of the day we are sure will arrive. When all those friends are gathered up and Jesus is waiting at the altar for us.
As the hours wound down to when I knew my last goodbyes to Bev were near, I found I could look at her with sadness and with joy in knowing not only was she going to a place far more glorious than here, but that one day we would be reunited at a party for all the ages. A party that is to come. A party that I want you all to be at – so will you RSVP today and yes, you can bring a friend or two.
Do you truly believe in the resurrection of the dead?
Are you living a life preparing for the New Eden, living a life of a bride in waiting – excitedly planning, preparing, inviting?
Speaking of heaven — please enjoy this beautiful poem my daughter, Madison Dooley, wrote and spoke at her grandmother’s funeral.
To See What She Sees
For Grandma Bev
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees
To see you face-to-face, shining with glory. To grab your hand and feel it wrapped around mine.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To be clothed in robes of white. To be completely whole, totally fulfilled. To be without sorrow, want, or pain.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To feel roads of gold under my feet and see angels above. To look ahead and see you seated on the throne, pointing at the open seat next to you, for me.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To see the mountaintops glistening with glory. To hear the angels and the saints singing Your praise, oh what a melodious sound it must be.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To see the faces of those who have gone before me, shining with glory. To see the colors in all their vibrancy, the flowers in all their brilliance.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To see the brokenhearted, the disabled, the outcasted – healed and totally restored. To feel anew again. To dance freely to the songs of heaven. To know the true meaning of Paradise. To look upon life on Earth and finally see the masterpiece you are sewing. To feel your presence wrapped around me like a tight hug.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To see the river of life flowing from your throne, glowing like a crystal. To see the tree of life towering over me, boasting its healing fruits.
To have no need for the sun, or even a lamp, because darkness is no more, there is no night.
Oh Lord my God, to see what she sees.
To see the mysteries of heaven unfolded before my eyes. To look down and see cosmos swirling beneath my feet, looking small compared to You. To experience the love of the Father for all that it was, it is, and is to come.
To be without sin. To be exactly who You created me to be.
The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Revelation 21:19-20
A few weeks ago, I was so blessed to be able to spend two weeks visiting my daughter and their new baby. But about a week and a half in I told her, “I love being here but I really miss being home.” There’s something about home that feels comfortable. Maybe it’s your own bed and pillows, your comfy chair that’s worn just right, the perfect cutting knife in your drawer, or just the knowledge of where everything is located.
Whether your house is a home, an apartment, on wheels, or even a Bedouin tent, God instilled in us the idea of “being home.” Maybe it’s because in this world we who have recognized Jesus as our Lord and Savior know this isn’t our final home. We long for the day we can go home to Him.
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:4-14
In his letter to the Israelites living in exile, Jeremiah passes along God’s directives that apply to all of us today. Settle down, plant roots, make a place for ourselves while being God’s example of holy people. And I thank God today for not only the home He has helped my husband and I build together but for the longing for our final home in beautiful Eden.
emboldened.net 