Wisdom in Sight

I've enjoyed reading through the book of Proverbs lately, and there is an amazing store of wisdom contained therein for the hungry and discerning soul.  The wisdom of God is not secreted away in a monastic commune, written with indecipherable symbols or buried in a chest on the highest mountain.  The wisdom of God is not earned through sacrifice but received by faith in Jesus Christ.  To all people Wisdom cries aloud, and for those willing to heed have wisdom in sight before them as it is written in Proverbs 17:24:  "Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."

Because Jesus is wisdom for us (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) He opens our eyes to discern and recognise the wisdom of God and begin to understand how God's wisdom is to guide our own thoughts, attitudes and choices.  Jesus is with us and will not forsake us; He is our life so wisdom is always at hand.  After His resurrection this was apparent in the interactions of Jesus with His disciples.  As He walked with them (without them even recognising Him) Luke 24:27 says, "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."  Suddenly the Bible became an open book of divine revelation to the disciples.  Later in the passage Luke 24:45 said, "And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures."  It is one thing to read words on a page and another to comprehend them, and it is Jesus who makes all the difference.

In contrast to the one who has understanding Solomon said, "...the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."  A fool, one the scriptures describe as living as if God does not exist, is without understanding to recognise God and His wisdom is at hand.  Such a one imagines wisdom exists beyond sight and cannot truly be known:  it is a mirage without substance, an unfounded rumour, a theoretical concept obscured by a cloudy mist.  Since God is the source of true wisdom, the fool cannot perceive the wisdom of God to guide him on his present path.  The Bible sits closed and dusty on a shelf, and wisdom might as well be a world away because the fool has no understanding or appetite for it.  Even if the truth of God's wisdom is heard secondhand the unregenerate fool has no capacity to walk in it.

Praise the LORD Jesus is wisdom for us, and He lives!  He walks with us, speaks with us and has sent the Comforter to help, guide and instruct us in all truth.  Having opened our eyes by faith in Him, Jesus is now in our sight.  We can be content, joyful and at rest in the goodness of God right where we are.  We have full assurance God is wisely guiding and leading us to His desired end which is glorious and good, for Jesus Christ is wisdom for us.