Reflections on 1 Corinthians 1:20–21
“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20, NIV)
Moffatt asks, “Has not God stultified the wisdom of this world?” To stultify is to make something look foolish and absurd. The Remedy names who Paul means for our own day: the agnostic professor, the atheistic scientist, the psychologist of the new age. All “wisdom” built on the principles of this world is, in the end, foolishness.
The scroll has unrolled. Strangely, much of it has been unrolled by science rather than by the Bible scholar. As we have learned the intricate language written into our DNA, the hands of God can be seen all over creation. “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20). Those who still refuse to see a Creator argue from a weaker and weaker position. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).
And the scroll keeps unrolling. The saving truth of yesterday was all we were responsible for, and it had the power to transform a life. But as new truth is revealed, we become responsible for it, and the power is in the truth that is present truth today. Think of the weekend Christ died. On Friday, the temple services were present truth. On Sunday, present truth was a risen Savior. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
Through the Bible, through history and proven archaeology, we see our God, Creator and Redeemer, fully and completely for us in Love. Love hung on the Cross 2,000 years ago, making a way for anyone willing to agree with salvation to be saved. Love came down to earth and showed us every part of Himself. When we rejected Him, unable in our sin-sick condition even to understand our great need, we murdered Him. He still loved us, forgave us, and kept drawing us to His heart by His Love. And the Father was right there in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19), feeling every drop of agony Christ experienced.
The hands of God are spread wide open. All the power of heaven is bathing this dark world. Look up and see the light flowing in bright streams all around us. You only need to move into the flow to be filled with the power to be healed, transformed into your most glorious self.
The healing begins deep within. Our time in the valley of the shadow of death is our time of growth and choice. We can choose to keep going, to trust the One beside us on our personal journey through that valley. We may need to return to it often as we say goodbye to old selfish habits that once brought us comfort but are no longer needed. We die to our old ways of thinking and coping, and replace them with new, healthier habits: a new life where we are free to be more.
This is why the world calls us foolish. We put our complete faith and trust in God, knowing He will sustain us, and has, in every circumstance. We do not need to be in control of our surroundings to feel safe and secure, because our loving Father says He is taking care of all that. There is no fear and no selfish need to protect self when there is a living, abiding faith and relationship with Christ. He is our Friend, concerned with us every minute of our lives. We are never alone.
