article by site founder, Connie Rice
Sadly, even many Christians do not benefit from true wisdom because they do not place a high enough priority on reading and studying the Bible. Through His Word, God has provided a way for us to not only know who He is but to rightly understand ourselves and the world as well as how to receive eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ. Paul gives us a description of who Jesus is in Colossians:
“He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Colossians 1:5-20Satan was the angel, Lucifer, who rebelled against God and was cast down. He is the prince of this world, the devil, the great deceiver, the father of lies, the tempter, the accuser, etc., and he is a master at confusing issues, redefining words, and who tries to keep people from salvation. For those of us who do surrender our lives to Jesus Christ and trust in Him alone for our salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit to empower us to live a victorious and purposeful life pleasing to God. However, while on earth, we still have a sinful nature and Satan uses our own weaknesses and sinful nature against us to pull us away from the abundant life that Christ made possible.
“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.’”
Jesus’ words to the Pharisees (Jewish leaders) in John 8:42-47
God has made Himself known through what He has made, so we all see evidence that He exists. Those who deny His existence have to reject what they see with their own eyes. Some still hold to Darwinian evolution even though it cannot account for how the first living cell came into being and the fossil record does not support it. More on this topic from scientists and others who recognize that recent research supports the biblical Creation account can be found on this site under Creation.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:18-20
Once we believe that God exists, the next step is to know Him. He has chosen to reveal Himself to us in His Word. The wisdom of the world is not true wisdom because Satan creates nothing – God is the Creator and Author of truth, life, and all that is good. Satan offers lies, death, and all that is evil. Oh, he can dress up lies and even death and evil to make them look appealing to us or even to appear good. That’s why we need to determine good vs. evil from our Creator and not allow ourselves to be deceived. How do we know true wisdom from worldly wisdom?
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:13-18
When you look at the attacks on Scripture throughout history, notice that they mostly focus on Creation, the historicity of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Flood, and the nature of humankind. This is strategic and intentional – if Satan can convince people that Creation did not need a Creator (question God’s existence), that Adam and Eve weren’t real people (not understanding that their disobedience cursed the world with, evil, sickness, and death), that Noah’s Flood didn’t happen (discounting God’s judgment on evil then and that He will judge evil again), and that humans are basically good (rationalizing and justifying sins and even having the arrogance to judge God), then he can keep them from fearing God and seeking Him with their whole heart, mind, strength, and soul, and crying out to our holy God for mercy. Thankfully, He is a merciful and forgiving God who waits with open arms for us to realize our need for Him and to turn from our sins and toward Him, the only One who knows everything about us yet still loves us unconditionally. As a loving God, He not only made a way for us to live forever with Him in heaven because of Jesus’ atonement for the sins of all mankind, but also has provided us with ample warning of coming judgment:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”
2 Peter 3:9-14
According to Bible prophecy, we are approaching the end of the church age, which means the Rapture could happen at any time. The Great Tribulation would follow and after 7 years, Jesus will return to fight Satan and lock him away for 1000 years. At the end of that time, He will conquer Satan and evil once and for all. In the meantime, may we all seek true wisdom, which begins with the fear of God:
“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
Proverbs 2:1-13
Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you,
To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things,
from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.”
The book, “The Power of Knowing God” by Tony Evans is a wonderful resource that I highly recommend – God has really gifted him with great communication skills. The analogies he uses are excellent (the one on 3 pit bulls made me laugh) and help us to better understand biblical principles. Every chapter in this book is powerful, but the one on wisdom relates to this post. This quote is from Chapter 10, page 147:
“Wisdom is located in God alone. To access that wisdom, you must fear God (Proverbs 1:7;9:10). What does it mean to fear God? It means to reverence Him in the high esteem He deserves. It means to surrender to His Kingdom rule over every area of your life – to seek His viewpoint based on His inerrant Word and to walk in its ways, rather than your own. To fear God involves a conscious awareness of His presence while allowing that awareness to impact your choices. Wisdom is about so much more than just knowledge. It is a merging of understanding with that knowledge, which then plays into life application. Knowledge is perceiving the true nature of a matter. Understanding involves knowing what to do with that knowledge.”
Tony Evans’ quote from his book, “The Power of Knowing God”
If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus, may I repeat the Bible verse that Billy Graham often used: “Now is the day of salvation” from 2 Corinthians 6:2. Your loving Creator is waiting for you. If you are a professing Christian, are you ready to receive all that your Savior has for you? One of my favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
© Constance Rice 2025
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