Proverbs 2:6: Back to the source material

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
-Proverbs 2:6

We do a funny thing in schools sometimes. We will, in these cases, study books about a writer rather than just reading the works of the writer. This is especially true with Classical philosophers and older works. We read the summary, the criticism, or the explanations without ever reading the source.

Personally, I have found Plato much easier to understand than all the books ABOUT Plato’s philosophy.

It’s not that the books about Plato are bad. Quite the contrary. Some are very good. But they are not substitute for the original.

We cannot say we are a fan of Stephen King when we have only seen the movie versions of his books. That’s not Stephen King; that’s an adaption by someone else. We cannot say that we loved GREAT EXPECTATIONS when we only read the Cliff’s Notes. We did not read the novel! We cannot say that we are a Platonic scholar when we have only read a journal article about the Allegory of the Cave.

That should seem obvious, and yet it is not when we approach God.

See, we have tried every way on earth to understand all of this, to become wise. We have philosophized on the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. We have studied nature and her laws, seeking to find her source and beginning. We have taken apart the body and wondered what makes us tick.

And God tells us, “I AM the meaning of it all. I AM the source and beginning. I AM the One who makes you tick.”

It’s not that these things are bad. They aren’t. It’s just like reading the critical essay on Plato rather than reading Plato. The essay can help you understand better, but it’s not a substitute. Science and philosophy can help us understand better, but they are not substitutes for the truth.

God explained Himself in His Word. And here’s the cool thing. Then He came to earth in the form of the man, Jesus, to teach us even more. Consider if you were reading Plato, and you have these critics trying to explain it to you, and then Plato shows up and says, “Look, you have it wrong. Let me help you.” You’d let him, right? Especially if there were a test on Friday!

Jesus came to help us. We, being imperfect and flawed, are unworthy of the Glory of God. But Jesus came to take our rightful punishment on the Cross and give us His righteousness. It’s like the test about God is on Friday (and you have to get a perfect score), and Jesus, who is God, told you, “I okayed it with the professor. I’m going to take the test for you.”

Let Him.

How do you let Him? Repent of your worldly ways. Repent to God and ask for His forgiveness. Then follow Christ. Read the Bible and let it change you.

Do you have to give up science, philosophy, or anything of that nature? No. But now you’ll come at it with a wisdom and understanding of the truth behind everything. Wisdom comes from Him, because He is the only one who has seen it all. And not only that, He created it all as well.