He came into the classroom the same way he always did - full of energy, big brown eyes shining and a smile as bright as his mind. Like the other children in the class, he was eager to tell me about the adventures of his day. As we chatted a few minutes before the lesson, the conversation got pretty interesting.
I don't remember exactly how it came about, but our exchange went something like this:
Him: 'I'm smarter than God.'
Me: 'Oh, you are very smart, but no one is smarter than God.'
Him: 'I am.'
Me: 'No, honey - we can't be smarter than God.' Him: (Pointing in the direction of the road) 'Well I know
that road right out there is 145.'
Me: 'You're right. But God made us and He
knows everything about us.'
I couldn't help but smile. He spoke in such innocence. I think two and three year old children are wonderful. They constantly challenge one's thinking. This is good for both the child and the grown up.
Unfortunately, many adults in this world believe they are smarter than God. It seems we witness more and more of this philosophy in the world today. Growing numbers of people think Christians are dumb, superstitious and narrow minded. Then again, maybe it is just I am noticing it more and more.
At any rate, according to the world the Bible is a book of fairy tales. None of the incredible events recorded in its pages could possibly be true. How could anyone possibly believe that stuff? It is ludicrous -- right? Wrong!!!
To be honest, it all comes down to choice. Either we choose to believe in God or we don't. The Bible is either Truth or it isn't. Either a divine Creator gave us life and made our beautiful world or the world evolved over billions of years. These arguments are not at all new. The battle between a belief in God or not has been going on almost since the world began.
Quite frankly, I find it easier to believe in creation than in any other theory out there. I think it takes more faith to believe in some 'big bang' than it does to believe the earth was exquisitely designed by an omniscient God. Many would argue that point, but most people I know place their trust in creation by God.
If we believe in God and His power to create the world do we believe His Word? There are some who believe in God; but do not believe in His Son. Others believe in the Son - but only accept parts of the Bible - or say they believe in Christ - but not the church.
A certain passage keeps running through my mind. It is 1 Corinthians 1:18 -25.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God (v. 18 ESV). I won't quote the entire passage here, but I encourage you to read it. In these verses the inspired apostle explains the opposing viewpoints perfectly.
God has made foolish the wisdom of the world. Those who believe or trust in their own wisdom will one day perish. An unbeliever might live many years on this earth - but they are perishing (or dying) spiritually.
Paul said the Jews seek signs -- maybe because they read in the scriptures about all the signs God gave His people -- the 10 plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, Jonah surviving three days in the belly of a great fish. The signs of God's greatness was a huge part of their culture. They were God's chosen people and they took great pride in that claim.
And yet, Jesus Himself gave them many signs - "mighty works and wonders and signs" Peter called them in Acts 2:22 - and still they did not believe in Christ, the Son of the Living God. Why? It was foolish to them He should die on a cross. It was foolish to them when He did not establish the earthly kingdom which would deliver them from captivity once and for all.
Just as the history of God's mighty works were part of the Jewish culture, so the desire for knowledge was part of Greek culture. Paul said "the Greeks seek wisdom" (1 Cor. 1:22). The Athenians (Greeks) emphasized philosophy, logic and literature. They took great pride in their intellect.
Things had to make sense to the Greeks. It was not logical for the son of a god (remember they believed in a plurality of gods) to allow himself to die in such a shameful way. It just didn't make any sense. What foolishness! Why would One so powerful do such a thing?
Yet Jesus Christ was the Son of the only God and He did just that. Neither the unbelieving Jews nor the Greeks understood the simplicity of Christ dying on a cross for a dying world. It was a simple act of love. But they had illusions of grandeur. God and His Son were supposed to be bigger - smarter -more powerful than all that.
This is the wisdom of the cross. This is the mystery of God revealed. The Savior showed the world nothing is bigger than a selfless act of sacrifice. Nothing is smarter than conquering death through a glorious resurrection. And nothing is more powerful than the purity of love.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 1:25).
Christ above all things,
Robin
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