February 24, 2011
Prophet-Like
My Grandma Belle was an outspoken Christian. Not only did you know where she stood, she would unequivocally tell you where you stood if you didn’t accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior. Grandma is now gone, but her son (my Uncle Joe) is facing death and quite honestly it’s not clear where he stands with the Lord. Some in the family expressed hope that someone will be able to reach him spiritually before it’s too late. I’m reminded of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his five brothers so that they would not wind up in the same place of torment. [My personalized paraphrase] Abraham said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, and Grandma Belle, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31 NIV)
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3 comments:
Gail;
-----In thinking about the difference between knowledge and wisdom, it is interesting to note that people often believe what is not congruent with what they know. Knowledge is good, but it isn’t good enough. Most of us have to move about in the world, and we believe what we know about hazards. So for the most part, the streets are not piled full of smashed up cars and ran-over pedestrians. Not as many but still most of us believe what we know about work and the maintenance of life. Albeit, our economy is beginning to fill up with smashed financial situations, enough of us still believe what we know about the connection between working and having that our economy yet provides many navigable financial lanes for earning at least a meager living. Such immediately apparent parts of life as these draw pretty good connections between knowledge and belief.
-----But the further out the reward or recompense is from the moment of decision, the more there is room to know one thing and believe another. In addition, the less physical is the matter of knowledge, then even the more is there room to believe against knowledge. The guiding line of a physical smash-up’s immediate peril is just not present. So in these matters, people feel a lot freer to find meanings according to concepts of what they have come to be or want rather than by what good investigation has found most likely. The greater part of our lives is made of these matters.
-----God’s love has given us information for good investigation. The core of it is the Word of God. We often hold the Bible in hand as a book without mentally appreciating that for most of human history the book itself was not there. Yet its information was. God began presenting it to Adam and continued giving it to prophets until John. Although the writing of the book had then become complete, He continues to this day to move the information about through prophets. These people are gifts to Christ’s bride, “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12). They do not need the guidelines of immediate peril or reward to believe what they know. Their belief makes wisdom, and wisdom is their guideline. The more they believe His information they know, the more they walk like Him. The more they walk like Him, the more they talk like Him.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
I am very glad to have found your blog this evening. This post is near to my heart. I have people in my life who are deeply loved who have not become Christians. It is my prayer that they make things right before it is too late.
Thank you for being light in a dark world.
Elaine Littau, author of Christian Historical/Western fiction
Elaine,
Glad to have you join the conversation.
Gail
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