It is important to realise that the Almighty God has given to each and every soul an element of wisdom to live. This element of wisdom is expected to be used to the best of humanity in the realisation of an inherent yearning of human soul to grasp the heart and essence of a relationship with God. How unfortunate that our youth world over and Christian youth in particular have abdicated the element of wisdom in liv-ing, serving, loving and fearing God. It would be wise to first understand the meaning of wisdom as experienced by those who walked with God and those who left us the heritage of the scriptures. The scriptures are equipped to clarify, explain, correct and position the thoughts of God on a range of issues pertaining to human life and in this case to young people.
The Meaning of Wisdom
Several meanings can be given to wisdom, amongst which are as follows:
Psalm 111:10 tells us that wisdom is the fear of God. What is the fear of God? The word of God does not expound fear of God as an oppressive element imposed upon us in our relationship with Him. The fear of God is the recognition of the existence, rule, and eternal Omnipresence of God in human lives and the universe. Fearing God is knowing that He exists, and that speaks of faith. We are told in the book of Hebrews 11:6 that God cannot be approached without us acknowledging by faith that He exists. Also, it’s important to note that our acknowledging of His existence and our refusal to acknowledge His existence by both faith and science do not discount His existence, His Being, and His essence. In wisdom we fear, because we know that He is, was, and will be. When humanity and youth recognise that He exists, that calls for fear, worship and reverence of Him and His Godhead.
It is also recognising that He rules the earth and heavens in His power, glory, and kingdom. God the Almighty is Sovereign, and that being the case, every rule on earth, borne out of human fallen and corrupt wisdom, must be subject to the Rule of God. Being able to live and embrace that fact and truth of the rule of God, availed to humanity throughout history by prophets, judges, kings, and Jesus Christ, is to be wise and fearful of God. When we embrace the Rule of God, we subject our day-to-day human fallen actions and pretences of goodness to the wisdom of Jehovah manifested on the cross of Calvary, when His Son Jesus Christ crucified our old nature of pride and regenerated our spirits to righteousness born of God and that greater wisdom producing true fear of God [Philippians 3:9 / 1 Peter 1:2 / Titus 2:15].
Furthermore, the fear of God is to acknowledge the eternity of His Omnipresence. God is everywhere at all times. The Psalmist in chapter 139 verses 1 through to 12 captures the all-knowing and all-the-time-present God, when he speaks of His all-embracing in our lives, all-seeing of our actions, all invading Spirit of God infinite in the entire universe of seen and unseen creation, even with our eyes. The Psalmist speaks of the wonderful control of God in hell, earth and heavens. This reminds one of the statement of Paul by the Holy Spirit to the saints of Philippi, that every knee of everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue will confess. In verse twelve, concluding the eulogy of the Presence of the Lord God, he declares that even darkness of night is as light in your sight. It recognises that with God there is no day or night, but His existence in the eternal and infinite Light that will never cease.
When I have turned a wise young person, then I have recognised that every act of my life is monitored and seen by the Living God, and that I will, whether I like it or not, account for that life before the Judgement seat of Omnipotent Jesus Christ.
Originally published in the print edition of DIVINE Magazine, Issue 02.
