Reflections From The Proverbs: Wisdom is Light

Wisdom is light

Proverbs Chapter Two
12. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13. Who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14. Who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. NIV

In the book of John chapter 3, Jesus reveals some truth and wisdom. It says:
16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." NIV

This well known much loved passage of John 3:16 seems out of place connected to the old testament passage about wisdom saving us from wickedness, perverseness, dark paths, crookedness, deviousness and evil. But it connects beautifully, like a puzzle piece fitting to reveal a picture.

Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God’s perfect wisdom. It is Jesus the Christ who "saves" us from darkness and evil. But as Jesus speaks of God’s love to accomplish this he reveals another truth about the nature of mankind. He says people love darkness instead of light. It boils down to a heart thing. It is all about what we love.

Tapping into the wisdom of God is all about what is in our hearts. It is about what we treasure most. Both the old and new testaments tell us to love the lord your God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

We can get a pretty good idea of what we love most by looking over daily planners, glancing through our checkbooks, and listening to the words we say. Our time, our resources, and our words are pretty good barometers of where our heart is. If we make our relationship with Jesus Christ the Son and God the Father the treasures of our heart, then the wisdom of God will keep us from evil ways.

I pray that we will be a people who love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. God knows that man’s nature is to love darkness. I pray that we will be a people of light. God loves to hear and answer this kind of prayer.