August
8, 2003
TO
DEPART FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING
"To
man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to depart from evil is understanding' " (Job 28:28,
NKJV).
Neither
by searching the earth nor in vain endeavors to penetrate
the mysteries of God's being, is wisdom found. It is found,
rather, in humbly receiving the revelation that He has been
pleased to give regarding Himself, and in conforming the life
to His will and word.
"Thus
says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich
man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in
this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord,
exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in
the earth. For in these I delight,' says the Lord" (Jeremiah
9:23, 24).
God informs
us that He delights in exercising "lovingkindness, judgment,
and righteousness in the earth" and He also says to man,
"to depart from evil is understanding." Have you
ever considered that the word "Righteousness" stands
for "doing what is right" or "doing it right"?
James tells us, "To him who knows to do good and does
not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
How different
the world would be if people would listen to the Lord, and
allow His Holy Spirit to lead them. If people would listen
to the Lord, there would not be the evil of terrorism and
people dying and others maimed for life as a result of terrorist
acts. There would not be the evil of Aids and millions of
people dying from this horrible disease. There would not be
the evil of people driving drunk and slaughtering or maiming
innocent men, women and children on the highways. There would
not be the evil of unfaithfulness and broken marriages. There
would not be the evil of babies being aborted or children
being abandoned. There would not be the evil of inappropriate
drug use and its consequences. There would not be the evil
of murder. There would not be the evil of corporate leaders
lying, cheating and stealing their employees pensions through
dishonest accounting practices.
What
a different world we would live in if people would accept
what God and Jesus have attempted to do for us and "do
what is right" because "it is the right thing to
do" To depart from evil IS understanding! To
know the Lord who exercises "lovingkindness, justice
and righteousness" in the earth is to make a difference
in this world. There is power in doing what is right. In everything
we do, we should attempt to do it right to the best of our
ability. And Jesus has promised to help us and to be with
us to the end.
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