Wisdom 13 Grab the Golden Ring

[HKHaugan]

Wisdom 13 The Golden Ring

 

If wisdom starts with God we must grab the golden ring, our personal relationship with Jesus and delve into it. A light bulb doesn’t get light from itself. It is the energy that comes through the electrical system that initiates the filaments in the bulb to light up. A flower blooms by itself? I don’t think so. It is the water and the nutrients in the soil the flower absorbs that cause it to bloom. A car doesn’t start by itself. It takes someone turning the key that gets the spark to ignite the fuel that makes the engine run. Think of all the world systems that require energy to become mobile. The direct corollary to that is how human beings are spiritual beings made to live in physical bodies to experience spiritual reality, meaning that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. True wisdom therefore is to see everything in a spiritual context and to operate spiritually. This exactly what Paul does in his letter to Colossian believers. But let’s put this in perspective.

   Paul, the intellectual Pharisaic expert on Scripture, met ‘wisdom’ face to face on the road to Damascus. It was Jesus’ Presence and His words that got to Paul there when Jesus asked him, “Why do you kick against the goads?” ‘Goads’ according to Eccl.12:11 are “words of the wise…given by One Shepherd.” That’s Scripture. Paul had been spiritualized. Paul knew the Hebrew Scriptures backwards and forwards. Three things happened to Paul in that encounter with Jesus. He saw Scripture as a personal spiritual revelation. He saw Jesus as the Lord of Scripture and He saw Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. We could add another thing. Saul became Paul. The old man was gone, and the new man with a new name emerged. The wisdom of Jesus had feet on the ground in Paul.

 Now think about the whole idea of systems. The way that all systems are put together and not just mechanical or physical systems. How about our personal and relational systems? They all take energy, a spark, to start them. If you liken Paul to a driver getting into his car ready to go someplace, he has in mind a plan, a destination, a message and the key to start it. First of all, it’s God’s plan. Second, his destination is Colossae. Third, the message is the plan which, like him, they will share. The first two chapters hold the plan. You see him setting up the believers in Colossae to understand the plan. The message is how to carry out the plan. He tells them they are going be doing what he has been doing. They, like him, will be drivers of the plan. Fourth, it’s going to be up to them to turn the key to move the plan into action.

 In Col.3:1 is when he shows them the key to turn the plan into action, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ…” There’s the spark. He makes it clear, personal and relational. Yes, Christ died and so did you when you received Him (2:20), but you were raised with Him and have a new nature. That’s the ignition key for them and us. Consider that wherever you are you have been raised with Christ. He is in you and you are in Him. That’s true for all those who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord. That moment of recognition is a moment faith kicks in, the Holy Spirit is the spark, His energy begins, and you are moving forward to be the witness of the living God.

 The mechanism you’ve been given, your body, like the car you’re driving, has an engine---your mind, heart and spirit. What you used to fuel it with was sin. That wore you out with self-centered lonely fear and pride. In Christ you had an overhauling, an oil and lube job and tires changed. In essence, you received a spiritual nature that will never run out of fuel even if the physical body ends up in a cemetery.   What was important fades in the glow of the light of Christ when we see Him as the plan, the destination and the message.

 So, we “Set our hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (vs.1).” “Things above” are spelled out in Php.4:8 as whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. It is not necessary to spell them out here but some brief thoughts about them may help.

 What is necessary is to recognize the Holy Spirit who will make them clear while you are on your way. He is the ignition and fuel. So, when someone makes a remark that is spiritually false you can discern it and respond according to the Spirit’s leading which may bring silence, a pause to question the statement or some verbal answer. As you meet people think of yourself dressed in the wisdom of God as your formal wear. It’s made up of the spiritual threads that have eternal quality in its weaving. Here are some of the threads:

 ‘Nobility’ involves remembering the King of kings and His bearing wherever you are. It’s the sense we are diplomats serving the royal King of Heaven.

 ‘Right’ is always being open to the Spirit as we make our choices in the light of Jesus’ teachings. Being right is being faithful.

 ‘Pure’ is awareness of the heart’s sense of affection for the spiritual as opposed to that which is earthy, crass, obscene and arrogant.

 ‘Lovely’ replaces sentimentality with God’s love; being compassionate, caring, listening, empathetic, sensitive and being a ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ person.

 ‘Admirable’ has that sense of humility before God in the presence of others. This is opposite of the ‘me first’ attitude in the world. It is the desire to give God the glory for accomplishments. It demonstrates you are serving someone higher than yourself.

 ‘Excellent’ points to setting your sights the best way to achieve something. It is an attitudinal point of view as when Paul indicates we should see things from a spiritual perspective.

 ‘Praiseworthy’ as it says, worthy of praise. Is it thought and action that lifts high the Lord God?

 Each of these admonitions for the mind sets the mind above the world’s concept of perfection. The Lord’s mind is the centerpiece for the power of reason and analysis. It is not striving hard to achieve any of these virtues on its own but to allow the Lord to be them through us. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The point here being, that if we think on them as Paul says, we will be aware of the Lord’s presence. He is all the virtues mentioned. He will make Himself available through the Spirit when the need for them arises. The work we are called to do is to let the Lord manifest them in us. That’s exactly what the Lord tells us in John 6:29, “This is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the One He has sent.”