June 10, 2018 - Inscriptions From The Heart

June 10, 2018
Pastor Immanuel Garcera

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

This morning, I ended my nightshift with the news that Anthony Bourdain, a famous celebrity chef, author, and writer (whom I watched growing up) has passed away. The cause: suicide. The article I read also noted that a few days earlier, Kate Spade, the famous multi-millionaire designer also passed away on similar circumstances. Both were wealthy and successful philanthropists in their own rights, but both suffered from depression. It reminds me, for some reason, of a question I’ve encountered time and time again: “If Christians are different and are supposed to do well, how come it does seem that non-Christians are not so different and actually do more good than Christians?” The key theme I see in this question and the lives of many Christian and non-Christian success is the theme of appearances.

From the perspective of many, it can be argued that you don’t need God to be successful or you don’t need God to be happy, nor do you need Him to find satisfaction (again, for some). It is here that that many of us encounter a crossroads of sorts where we either tell them they’re wrong and argue, or ask the Holy Spirit to intervene and reveal to them something they cannot see. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) Like many verses like it, it is a reality only to those who have a fear of the Lord – a relationship with, and who have experienced the person of Christ. It is this experience of Christ that we know and realize, that we are reminded of the truth of what Scripture say. This truth and only this truth of God’s Word is the only thing that can break the perceptions/illusions of our circumstances.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36) We are all worldly in one way or another, in one capacity, in some aspect of our life, at some point in our lives, whether that would be in the past present or future. For me, personally, it’s this weird obsession with cars that I have. I digress. But the reality is, God’s power transforms us from glory to glory and by His Word we are forewarned with wisdom about worldliness. By our relationship with Him we can know and trust that His Word is true despite what we see and perceive. Because the truth is, sadly, in this world, having prestige, success, money, and fame – although we all somewhat seek it (don’t lie), it does not lead to what we expect. The truth of God’s wisdom forewarns us that hidden beneath all of what seems to be, lays destruction, dissatisfaction, loss, and death.         

Lord, please grant us wisdom to see what we cannot.