1 Corinthians 1:22-25 - For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
The other day I came across a list of the simple pleasures of life.
On that list were things like soft pajamas, holding hands, a light snow on Christmas, watching a first-grader suddenly understand something, not having to set an alarm clock for tomorrow morning, and taking a family picture where everyone's eyes are open and every smile is sincere.
The person had apparently spent some time putting together the 100 items on their list. I agreed with some ... didn't understand others.
There was one item which I thought was noticeably absent. You may disagree with me, of course, but I think most people would put on their list finding out an expert was wrong. Almost 70 years of human observation has convinced me there are few things which give greater pleasure than seeing an expert proven to be wrong.
Yes, I know it's petty, and just a little juvenile, but it's true.
Think -- what is your reaction when you hear experts once predicted train travelers would get nose bleeds if they exceeded the blinding speed of 15-miles-an-hour? Don't you smile? Don't you get a little grin knowing that when women were first offered typing lessons the experts predicted the delicate female constitution would be unable to withstand the strain?
Yes, many people like to see the expert proven wrong.
This is especially true in regard to the ultimate Expert: the Triune God. More than anything the millions of doubters and deniers in this world want to prove God to be wrong. That is why they spend so much time, money, and effort trying to prove that the Lord is a humbug, His Word is a sham, and those who believe what He says are incredibly foolish.
You know, it wasn't so many years ago the wise of this world said, "Scripture is wrong: Pontius Pilate is merely a figment of the apostle's imagination." They said that until they found an inscription that proved otherwise. The human experts had been proven wrong, and the Word had been vindicated.
They said that David was just a minor warlord until they found evidence which assured King David was, well, he was a king.
Again and again, unbiased observers will be compelled to conclude God is the Expert and He is right 100 percent of the time.
This is why no matter what the earth's experts may say, and no matter how often they try to prove God to be wrong, I will continue to put my trust in the Lord whose Word has always been reliable and His love to save sinners -- as seen through Jesus -- undeniable.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, people will believe what they want. Send Your Holy Spirit upon the lost so their eyes may be opened and they may trust You who gave Your Son as the supreme Sacrifice, which was offered to forgive and save them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Proverbs 10-12 Acts 1
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