Perspectives

1 Corinthian 1:18-19 … 18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19) For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (NKJV)

We know very well how foolish it might sound to those who do not believe what the Scriptures teach about Jesus dying on the cross to save them. However, those who by faith have put our trust in Christ recognize this message as being the very centre and power of God. Scripture teaches that God destroys all human devices or ideas about salvation where that foundation does not include Jesus Christ… no matter how smart or wise they might seem. In fact, the Bible teaches that God in His wisdom ignores the very best ideas that humanity dreams up.

The story that Christianity has to tell sounds at times, absolute foolishness to those who are perishing. It appears foolish because it shows how mere human wisdom and understanding are certain to fail. It is an undeniable fact that for all humanity’s wisdom, many are still seeking a God they have never found. Even in today’s age of enlightenment a great number of folks have failed to understand who God really is. There are brilliant astronomers who search the heavens and map the very orbits of the planets.

But, they have never made a proclamation that their telescopes have found where God lives. The details of a world invisible to the human eyes have been investigated, analyzed, cut up and put back together again. But, never has anyone stated that they have seen God through their microscopes. Could we call this foolishness? As Christians, we see the marvelous work of God’s creative power in all creation – in the stars of the universe and the tiniest micro-organisms visible only through the microscope. Unbelieving truth-seekers study and read; they probe this and poke at that, they have turned every rock upside down to find how they can discredit the creative power of God. They too will come to know that it is impossible through their humanistic research to find God. There is no way that the world through their wisdom will ever find God.

One more foolish thought. It seems incredulous to many folks that one whose life was taken from him on a cross could possibly be Jesus Christ, God’s Chosen Son. You see in Jesus’ day, folks were guided only by what the letter of the law stated. That law stated, that anyone who was hung on a cross was considered cursed. It was absolute foolishness to imagine a suffering Saviour. There were those who thought that God was unable to feel the pain of His people. They went so far as to say, “That if God can feel joy or sorrow or anger or grief it means that someone has at that moment influenced God”. As a result, they might think that God is no greater than the person who influenced him. It seems so incredulous to think that one who had to suffer as Jesus had suffered could possibly be the Son of God. It’s no wonder that the story of Christ on the cross is hard to accept. But, what looks like foolishness to us, is really wiser than all the combined wisdom of humanity; what looks like God’s weakness is really stronger than all the might of humanity.

How do we view the cross? What do we think of when we hear or read about the death of Jesus on the cross, and three days later He rose again? Do we think it is foolishness? Or can we be convinced that it is the very power and wisdom of God. There will be those who will stand back, beat their chests, suspicious… clamoring for a credible sign. They want more before they will turn to the cross for salvation. We may have to step on our pride before we can accept the fact that God’s foolishness is after all wiser than our own wisdom and His weakness far stronger than our own strength.

The cross, the resurrection that followed is the only hope Christians have. The cross reveals the love and forgiveness of God. Many folks think it is too complicated to come to the Jesus who died on a cross. But, Jesus invites us to come just as we are and welcome Christ into our heart. We can do that right where we are at this very moment.

Would you pray this prayer with me … “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that will fulfill my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen