(Prov 22:12 NIV) The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Here Solomon, once again, warns us from being on the WRONG SIDE of God. When God is with you and for you, life is amazing, but when God is against you, life can be hard and frustrating. The word “knowledge” in this text, in context, is referring to divine knowledge. Said another way, it basically means that the LORD Himself keeps watch over those who are operating in the plans that He initiated. The Hebrew word for bless is barak (baw-rak). The Hebrew word for create is bara (baw-raw). I heard a preacher once say that God only baras what He baraks; meaning, God only blesses what He creates. The Father will back, protect, and bless the things He leads you to do. But when you get out there on your own, in the realm of the dishonest, illegal, and unfaithful, then you are exactly that, on your own. Where God leads, He feeds. Where He guides, He provides. But when you are not walking with Him, not only do you have to face all that comes – temptation, calamity, failure, etc. – on your own, but you also have to deal with the fact that God will be against your plans. Believe me, you don’t want to be against God.
This reminds me of a powerful sermon American theologian Jonathan Edwards preached on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut, entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Jonathan Edwards, along with many of his contemporaries in during the Great Awakening, had no problem emphasizing the message that Hell is a real and functional place. Author George M. Marsden, in his book on the life of Jonathan Edwards, said, “Edwards hoped that the imagery and message of his sermon would awaken his audience to the horrific reality that he argued awaited them should they continue without Christ.” The underlying point of the sermon is that God has given humanity an avenue for salvation and that is through accepting His Son, Jesus the Christ, as Lord. The blood of Jesus is applied to the life of every person who accepts Him as Lord, serving as a payment for the penalty for sin. The result is both eternal life and the blessed benefit of living out the remainder of our days in the earth with God on us, in us, with us, and for us.
While accepting Jesus as Lord opens the door to eternal life (in heaven) and a blessed life now (in the earth), the opposite is also true. Rejecting Jesus as Lord closes the door to both eternal life and the God’s blessing now. This means that the sinner will both ultimately experience the indescribable pain and torture of eternal torment in hell and the current frustration of living life without divine purpose or divine protection.
So what does this mean to you today? It clearly means that you have a choice to either accept Jesus as Lord (which I pray you will do today, if you have not already) or reject Him as such. Your decision will have implications both in this life and in the one to come. So consider carefully and choose wisely. But don’t choose Jesus because you are afraid of hell. Jesus’ blood is much more precious than just fire-insurance. No, choose Jesus because He loved you enough to die for your sin. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because you owed a debt you could not pay, and He did it out of love. That’s the kind of God I CHOOSE to serve! How about you?
***Two closing confessions today. Declare the one that applies to you:
Closing Confession for the Sinner: God, I realize how much You love me and Your love has overwhelmed me this morning. I realize You sent Jesus to die in my stead. So right now Jesus, I ask You to come into my life and forgive me of my sin. I receive You as the LORD of my life. I denounce Satan and all his works. Thank You for saving me and for giving me eternal life IN YOU! I believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that You rose from the dead. I am saved and I am NOT going to hell. Write my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Today is my God-day with the Lord Jesus! I pray this prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus. Amen. If you just accepted Jesus as Lord, please let me know. There are some things I want to share with you. Real life, for you, has just begun! Congratulations!
Closing Confession for the Believer: Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to die in my stead and I also thank You for Your continual grace and mercy. You grace showers me with what I do not deserve and Your mercy withholds what I do deserve. Thank You for Your overwhelming goodness in my life. Not only have You blessed me to know that I am going to heaven, because of Jesus’ finished work, but I am also abundantly blessed to enjoy the ride. I live every day with the blessed assurance that You are ON ME, IN ME, WITH ME, and FOR ME! I have an amazing life because I have made the right choice! Thank You Father! I declare this by faith! Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
