1Corinthians 1:18-31
Here are a couple of verses that may be the most controversial of any that Paul writes in the New Testament. This is from 1 Corinthians 1:18-19.
“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.”
We live in a day and age where we – mankind – sees ourselves as so inherently brilliant that Jesus in many ways has become little more than an afterthought to many. Paul’s pointing out here that we live with that attitude at our own risk. The message of the cross of course is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the Good News of how, form that cross, from that place of pain, suffering and humiliation all people can come to the forgiveness of sins. And from there, everyone can live with the hopeful expectation that when their sorrow filled lives are done on this earth, we will know eternal joy with Jesus.
We will know Heaven and glorified bodies. We will know a kind of worship that words can’t describe. We will never again know pain or death or sin or hate.
Like the song says, I can only imagine.
One day, Jesus will come back for us and when He does, those who wrote Him off as a myth because He didn’t fit into some algorithm, will sadly come to know judgement. And on the one hand, yes, that’s sad. And I know some people use it to denigrate the Church. But here’s the thing. You can be wise and brilliant and all the things and still retain enough intelligence to know Jesus. Because knowing Him simply requires an open heart, and open mind.
Rejecting Him because the thought of eternal salvation feels foolish is, well, kind of foolish. The only investment Jesus asks from any of us is to love Him as He loves us. All of us. You don’t even need to log off your computer to invite Him into your heart!
Just close your eyes for a second and speak to Him. Let Him know that as smart as you see yourself, the idea of a Savior who will carry me into eternity challenges my intelligence in such a way that I need to know more. I need to grow in that knowledge. I need this Holy Spirit to guide me.
And then, you can get back to your earthly labors with a new, joyful outlook on life both this one and the one to come!