The dramas of life written by prolific writers and portrayed by great actors in media and movies have the same theme—Choices. The storyline begins with the good life of the main character who is surrounded by actors supporting the main character. The number of actors depends on the budget for the film more than the story at times. But one thing is for sure; all stories rise and fall upon the choices made between what will bring life or cause certain death.
Many lighter to dark scenarios with decisions to make along the way to follow good or evil will build the storyline to its greatest problem to solve. Wisdom, integrity, and knowledge are what is needed to make the decision that is best for all. Some follow wisdom, but not until the drama builds in tension with elements of surprise! The supporting characters will either rise or fall with the main character depending upon how their role will help to solve or add to the problem. Either way, the choice has to be made or the story cannot go forward. The choice will come at a cost, for the life of the main character is at stake! Will evil or good win? It depends of the creator of the story.
Since the days of Adam and Eve’s fall to evil, mankind has been plagued with fighting the battle between good and evil. Many stories have played out over history and is written to show us the power, authority, and character of God. But the decisions to follow Him are ours to make. To God, we are either for God or against Him. There is no middle ground to stand on.
Choices must be made by each individual to choose life or death. If we choose life with God, our belief and behaviors will hardly ever be popular with the people around us who make different choices. Our decision to follow God no matter what and lean into His wisdom, seeking His insight and understanding, might even temporarily affect what others see as prosperity on earth. But we who believe and follow know better. With God, through Jesus, we have everything we need and more. We know how God’s story ends with complete victory over evil; for He has revealed it to John so that the world may know.
When we make decisions without the wisdom of God who has a better plan for each one of us; we fall more easily to evil. We become easy prey for the lion of evil who prowls around waiting to take us down and hold us as slaves to our sins. But God…But with God, who is the Source of Life, has a better plan to bring us out of trouble and change our storyline forever! The Plan was, is, and always will be His Son, Jesus—our Savior and Lord.
Centuries ago, when most of God’s people stopped listening, God stopped talking to them. When God’s people believed they could do life without Him; He allowed them to try. A stronger, evil, barbaric nation overcame them and took them to Babylon as captives where they were slaves for seventy years. When the people finally began to call out to God while remembering the words of His prophets who warned them—this is what our God, full of compassion and always faithful, said through Jeremiah, His prophet who didn’t give up on God;
“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Jeremiah 29:10-14
God is Wisdom. True Wisdom begins and ends with God, the Source of Life.
Proverbs 4, The Message
Your Life Is at Stake
4 1-2 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice;
sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.
I’m giving you good counsel;
don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.
3-9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee,
the pride and joy of my mother,
He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!
Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;
love her—she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”
10-15 Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.
16-17 Evil people are restless
unless they’re making trouble;
They can’t get a good night’s sleep
unless they’ve made life miserable for somebody.
Perversity is their food and drink,
violence their drug of choice.
18-19 The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
Learn It by Heart
20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.
23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
Choose Life. Guard your heart. Prayerfully consider each decision made today. Seek God and His wisdom as if your life depended on it—because it does!
Lord,
Thank you for your wisdom written in forms we can begin to understand. The depths of your insight from your perspective are needed in our world of confusion issues of the day where both sides of the debate seem foolish and without merit or truth. Guide us, Lord. Teach us Truth. Your love and light shine brightly for the world to see you in us. Oh Lord, I cry out for your wisdom again today. Thank you for listening with your perfect, pleasing and perfect will for me as you do for others who decide to follow you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
