Grace and Wisdom, Part I
I am reminded of a thought-provoking book titled, Too Late Smart, Too Soon Old by Gordon Livingston, M.D. His ability to point out the nuances and challenges of life and death are remarkable.
The Holy Bible is full of wisdom, history, biographies, science, cultural issues, war, peace, animal husbandry, psychology, politics, medicine, death and most importantly, how to live life. The Bible is the by far the most remarkable book ever written and it is the Holy Word of God.
As I age, I am increasingly aware of my shortcomings, areas to improve, strengths, and the challenge of accepting people for who and what they are.
The Bible helps me observe, understand, and live life. There are many Scriptures that have helped me over the years and I hope these will help you too.
The first challenging Scripture is found at the beginning of the story of humanity. God warned Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7) Cain, you, and I have fallen to the sin crouching at our doors. I wonder when I will “master” sin! The second is equally challenging. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heat, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) I understand the basic mechanical workings of the heart with the four chambers, Purkinje fibers, the electricity the heart generates and how it shows up on an electrocardiogram (EKG) and how fat and extra fluid affect the heart but what I do not understand is how my heart can be so very deceptive that it tricks me.
Has your heart tricked you?
Will I, can I, learn how the heart tricks me?
Thankfully, there is the third Scripture. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I believe that God does forgive me of my sin – but why do I find it so difficult to forgive myself?
This is a reason many people do not believe that God can love them so much that He sent His Son to die for them. After all, how could a righteous God love someone who has done so many bad things?
Ahh yes, remember the human heart is deceitful, causing us to doubt God’s love and even refusing God’s forgiveness.
Those who have serious doubts or fears about being forgiven need to examine the examples of people so bad but God still loved them stating His love for them.
A few of these examples include Moses, king David, the apostle Paul and so many others in the Bible.
If those folks had their sin forgiven, I believe God does forgive all our sin.
More next week.
Clayton P. Adams, West Memphis, Arkansas, email: claytonp adamslll@gmail.com.
Clayton Adams
Time in the Word
