THE POINT OF NO RETURN
WISDOM PERSONIFIED
Chief among the Cast of Characters in the Book of Proverbs is the Lady Wisdom. She is the personification of the wisdom of God, and stands in direct contrast to the Woman of Folly.
In the first nine chapters of Proverbs she teaches, warns, and encourages all mankind to appropriate the LORD God’s philosophy/worldview, to live according to His principles, and to experience the benefits to ourselves, our loved ones, and our world.
She is Solomon’s Tutor. Is she yours?
Proverbs 1:20-23 (ESV)
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
POINT OF NO RETURN
Remember the Principle of reaping and sowing, cause and effect? One of the great lies we tell ourselves is that we have more time, more chances, more opportunities to get right, to change for the better. We tell ourselves that since we seemingly get away with things, that we can escape the consequences of our choices and action. We tell ourselves that we will eventually repent, that God will forgive us, and all will be well.
The problem is:
* The more we get away with it, the more we’ll continue to do it, and it becomes a growing, insidious habit, getting progressively more difficult to break.
* We aren’t evading cause/effect, reaping/sowing; it is only postponed by the grace of God, and the “harvest” is growing larger and more devastating as time goes on.
* There is a “Point of No Return”, a line that we cross where the consequences of our repeated actions cannot be avoided, and where God’s judgment is guaranteed. We set events in motion that cannot be nullified, cancelled, or avoided.
Jeremiah’s message to Israel that it was too late to repent and avoid Babylonian captivity.
David’s sin with Bathsheba required the punishment of God, in spite of his repentance.
Will God still forgive? YES! (see Ps 51) Will the pain and suffering for ourselves and our loved ones that are the result of our actions be nullified? No.
And it will happen “suddenly”, like any other harvest.
Proverbs 1:24-32 (ESV)
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
Proverbs 29:1 (KJV)
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Today’s the day my friend, to do whatever it takes to choose the ways of Lady Wisdom, the Fear of the LORD.
She still makes this promise:
Proverbs 1:33 (ESV)
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
~Johnny
8-17-17
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