We have been taught that light travels in a straight line and so it makes perfect sense that the human eye will not be able to see around the corner. The only way this can happen is if someone places a mirror on the other side of the bend to reflect the hidden part of the road. For the child of God, the mirror available to us is His word – which is ‘a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path…’ Ps. 119:105. God’s word instructs His children on the choices to make in order to get the best out of life – for example, In Ps. 133 we are told that it is good and pleasant when we dwell together in unity because God will command His blessing upon us when we do so. In Ps. 127:1-2 we read that unless we involve the Lord in our lives, we will not get the desired results but will instead end up disappointed! It is only God Who can see round the bend; so putting His word into practise saves us unnecessary pain!
The times we live in today are very unprecedented and in order to wade through them successfully, we need wisdom from above. Pr. 3:5, 6 – gives us the direction we need; It says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.’
The spiritual, political, economic and social landscapes of our day have changed so significantly and are so unpredictable that only God can give us the wisdom and discernment we need to make the right choices in every aspect of life! In 2 Timothy 3 and 4 Paul writes about the behaviour of those living during the perilous times of the last days which we believe we’re in: The first few verses of chapter 3 tell us that – 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! Chapter 4 continues to warn us that; 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
In our current setting, there are many strange ideas thrown at us from every direction; whether it has to do with health, food and nutrition, modern trends in fashion, behaviour and lifestyle that impact both us and those around us. The wisdom of James 1:5 where we are advised to ask God for wisdom whenever we need it will help in giving us the direction we need so that we may continue living our lives to glorify God even in these perilous times.
