While listening to, and following, God‘s wisdom tends to lead to the confident security of living by the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the consequences of ignoring God and His wise counsel paint a clear picture of what we see in lives of many in our world today. If you are a follower of Jesus and depend on God’s wisdom, that this should prompt you to pray for those suffering the impact of their own decisions to reject Him.
A few nights ago I awoke from a dream so upset I immediately began praying. Let me tell you about the dream. I was standing in a space full of bright light. I felt the presence of God, so calm and peaceful. Then suddenly I felt like I was falling I was then standing in a dark place, no light at all and I felt the presence of a horrible evil. God’s light wasn’t there anymore.
Proverbs 1:24-32 gives us a warning of the consequences of ignoring God’s wisdom:
I once had a friend who was the sweetest man I ever met. He would do anything for anyone. But he had a problem -he was an alcoholic. He refused to get help. He ended up in the hospital after alcohol poisoning. The doctors saved his life, and was told to stop drinking because next time they probably would not be able to save his life. He refused to go to rehab. He ended up dying a month later.
I know a lady right now who was saved, goes to church and sinned by allowing someone who she met control her life. She was told the decisions she was making wasn’t going to turn out well. God gave her many warnings. She ignored them. She began getting sick, and a month later she fell and broke her neck in 2 places. She has been in the neck brace for going on 4 months. But she still ignores God’s warnings.
These are just two examples of the flesh being in control instead of the spirit.
God desires a relationship with us. He seeks to draw near in one of two ways: through His Word, whether written or through the voice of one of His children, or through times of suffering that He uses to get our attention. In His mercy, God gives us more chances than we deserve to turn to Him. Ultimately, He knows our hearts, and He gives us what we are asking for -a God free life.
The verses above are hard to read. The thought of God laughing at our calamity or mocking us when terror strikes. How can a loving God do such a thing. Verses 29-30 gives us the answer:
“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof” (ESV)
He let us reap what we sow. His favorite turns from us when we hate the thought of knowing God and refuse to give Him the reverence He is due. We can’t expect God’s blessings when we’re living in sin.
Matthew 7:7 tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.”
This is the God who gives when we ask, is found by those who seek Him, and opens doors to those who knock. If we reject Him we will get the opposite.
We should heed this warning.
God by His nature He longs to be in intimate relationship with all He’s made in His image. Sin messes that up, but it hasn’t changed God’s desire. Our challenge is to turn from the enticement of sinning and turn to the wisdom that can be heard above the world’s noise. Refusing God’s message had consequences, and it’s up to us to avoid them by listening to Him.
From Pity to Praise 