A Picture's Worth of Wisdom - By Andrea Marino

Scripture is filled with images to impart greater awareness. Consider David’s anxious prayer for rescue from his foes in Psalm 140: ‘agitators of war’ with ‘tongues sharp as a snake’s bite’, ‘venom under their lips’. David further describes his adversaries as masterful planners of evil who set traps to cause him to stumble and be ensnared. Followers of Jesus can certainly relate to this scene nowadays. There is much to know about the forces of darkness within the unseen realm. Jesus didn’t pray for His people to be removed from the world, but that they would be protected from the evil one. (John 17:1)

There are also comical pictures to behold in God’s words, such as: “In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:5 NLT) and “A stone is heavy and sand, a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.” (Proverbs 27:3 HCS) God’s sense of humor nails reality. Then, there are analogies in Scripture to take to heart for life, such as Wisdom’s Plea.

Depicted in the first chapter of Proverbs is an earnest crying out in the streets above the commotion, “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?” (Proverbs 1:22 HCS) Here is a statement to stop a person dead in his tracks. Foolish? Ignorant? I don’t believe anyone chooses to be that way. Though it isn’t hard to find people who consider themselves wise in their own eyes. (Proverbs 3:7a) Believing only in what one thinks, unwilling to be told anything, shows a person to be a fool who despises knowledge. (Proverbs 1: 22, 23) We can actually see the perversion in their eyes, revealing what is in the heart of them. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good; your whole body will be full of light.” (Mathew 6:22 NLT)

Wisdom, personified, in the book of Proverbs urges all men and women to follow the One true God, to avoid the traps set by a real-live (yet unseen) serpent/being who is going full steam ahead with his plan to be worshipped by whosoever will. Satan loves painting pictures in our heads, too. Cleverly approaching the ignorant and foolish as an angel of light, he convinces them of nothing to fear, that life in hell will be a party where everything they want is there and they can have. While Wisdom cries out, turn in here; get off the highway to hell.

As one target of the Enemy, my childhood understanding of the supernatural was but a haunting by monsters under my bed and creepy things lurking in the darkness that were out to get me. Surely, this holds an element of truth. King David describes a serpent. Since coming to Jesus, my greater understanding and awareness is Heaven. A loving Father, reaching out to me, has made all the difference in the world that will culminate in a new world to come, absolutely to be seen. If we search for Wisdom, as we would hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of the Lord and will find the knowledge of God. Generously, He gives wisdom to all who ask. (James 1:5)

We are encountering many who speak perverse things, having left the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. These rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked.

When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,

To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things,

From those who leave the paths of uprightness

To walk in the ways of darkness;

Who rejoice in doing evil,

And delight in the perversity of the wicked;”

(Proverbs 2:10-14 NKJV)

Andrea Marino

Andrea is mom to four great kids and Grammy to four delightful grands. Passionate about Jesus, friends, and people, Andrea loves to share all He has taught her in life. When not writing, Andrea enjoys simple things, such as music, heartwarming movies, reinventing recipes to be healthier, and cycling along one wooded road or other with the Lord.

Please visit her Facebook blog: https://www.facebook.com/ In-The-Way-Everlasting-1770074853062907 Andrea is always ready to hear thoughts from her readers. Or you can email her at: rapture927@aol.com