The Condition Of Ignorance

Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the LORD. [Proverbs 20.12] 

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18] 

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.9-10] 

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’  [Matthew 13.11-15]

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19] 

The condition of ignorance of God's Word (Jesus) is idolatry. Idolatry is trusting anything other than, or in addition to, God. Idolatry is the foundation of all manner of sin.

The Bible has said this all along. But, in our gross ignorance of the Word (written and Living), we have failed to see it. Consequently, we have fallen victim to the idolatrous devices and systems of our own design, effectively rejecting the life-changing power of God with its Kingdom-defining miracles as confirmation.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [2 Timothy 3.1-5]

Father, the Bible is clear: if we are ignorant of Your Written Word (the Bible) and the Living Word (Jesus, Whom the Bible is all about), we are blind and deaf captives of idolatry and the sin it promotes. May You witness a shift in history as true believers realize their current and obvious captivity to idols and not only give them up, but forsake them altogether distinguishing themselves from the world and its systems, as (the system of) Your favor rests upon them. So be it.

Unplanned Pregnancy?

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. [Proverbs 17.6] 

In the circumstances surrounding an unplanned pregnancy, there are, no doubt, countless people who are disappointed. While the parents of the child may indeed be experiencing their own fear and disappointment, other family members, friends, and church people may communicate disappointment through words, looks, or silence. An unplanned pregnancy has the potential for a LOT of disappointment.

However, there is one person who is not disappointed with an unplanned pregnancy... That person is the precious child conceived. While not a humanly discernable thought is present in the conjugation of egg and sperm at that moment of conception, there is an undeniable explosion of life and will to live that begins the instant that sperm is received by the egg - the presence of a brand new life!

The life that is created at the moment of conception is a unique combination of both the father's and the mother's will to live from deep within their separate bodies. In their sexual act, regardless the conscious circumstances of those parents, the new life formed represents those parents' combined will to live. Naturally, that tiny new human honors and adores its parents, not in conscious thought at first, but in its evident explosion (celebration) of life. That little explosion of life carries not one bit of judgement or disappointment toward its parents. That little explosion of life only celebrates what lies ahead - and all this before any conscious thought ever takes place!

Is it any wonder then, that without even knowing the circumstances of their conception, a child is inherently proud of his or her parents? A newborn's birth proudly screams, "I am alive because my parents live!"

For any parent who is or might be considering abortion as an option for an unplanned pregnancy, this verse from Proverbs presents a thought to be considered... parents are the pride of their children.

And, oh yeah, this only discusses the first part of the verse above! The "grandparent thing" is a whole other level!

Father in heaven, for all the "disappointments" that might accompany an unplanned pregnancy, may the "explosive life" of a new child reveal Your creative power and bring the optimistic hope of the child to the parents. So be it.

Who You Gonna' Believe?

Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. [Proverbs 14.15] 

The world puts out a LOT of information. A LOT of people believe their lives are better for the world's advanced information and its industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. There is a LOT of information being provided and a LOT of people who believe it. People's genuine belief in the world's information is confirmed by their participation in the industries it promotes.

In contrast, the Bible also puts out information for people to believe:

God's Word says He is the Provider.

Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” [Genesis 22.14]

God's Word says He is the Protector.

Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” [Genesis 15.1]

God's Word says He is the Healer.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” [Exodus 15.26]

God's Word says He is the Comforter.

“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? [Isaiah 51.12]

Even though the Bible teaches that God is everything the world's industries claim to be, simple people (simpletons) believe everything they are told by the world evidenced by their participation in its industries (where their steps - actions - take them) while only giving the Bible "abstract religious consideration" (with no effect on their steps - actions - whatsoever). This accounts for most people on the earth today (sadly, in the Church as well).

However, prudent people carefully consider their steps. Prudent people do not believe everything the world tells them but instead, by their actions (steps), prove that they believe God's Word. Few people actually believe this way and so it is no surprise that Jesus (God's Living Word) would say:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Every industry the world and its information calls us to trust in and rely on is an idol. Naturally, the world's idols challenge God's Word today just they always have:

Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? [Isaiah 36.4]

As the story referenced above reveals, Hezekiah did not believe what he was told by the Assyrians but prudently and carefully considered his steps - his answer was evident in his actions: he trusted God ALONE. 

Do we believe everything we are told?

Debt says, "you need me" but God says, "I am your Provider."

Insurance says, "you need me" but God says, "I am your Protector."

Medicine says, "you need me" but God says, "I am your Healer."

Technology says, "you need me" but God says, "I am your Comforter."

Who you gonna' believe? Our actions (steps) reveal the truth!

Father, Your Word again challenges us to undivided faith in You ALONE. Jesus made it clear just how serious the matter of our "steps" - the way we choose - is. Your Word is true and every man a liar. May we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus! So be it.

Talk About Disgraceful!

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. [Proverbs 11.2] 

Think about it... Consider all of man's global accomplishments in the areas of finance, insurance, medicine and technology! 

Who could call these accomplishments disgraceful compared to God's promises?

God.

God's Word is clear: He is our Provider. He is our Protector. He is our Healer. He is our Comforter.

The wisdom of God is manifested in the powerful display of God's miraculous provisions without the least input of man.

The wisdom of man is manifested in expensive industries heavily dependent upon man's input and ingenuity.

The industries of man become a snare and a trap to him in oppressive interest payments, premiums, prescriptions, and obsolescence.

And yet, man proudly and even vehemently defends his insatiable industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology - and, even worse, religiously tries to credit God for them. Talk about disgraceful!

Father, may we come to the humble conclusion that all our accomplishments are nothing more than idols that we proudly justify. So be it.

Trusting God ALONE Is Fear Of The LORD

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. [Proverbs 9.10] 

As suggested in Having S*x With The Devil, there is wisdom from above that stands in contrast to wisdom from below. The wisdom from above comes from knowing and believing God ALONE (the fear of the LORD). The wisdom from below, the wisdom of man, comes from any proportion of knowing and believing man instead of, or in addition to, God.

As fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom, it must be understood that the distinguishing characteristic of wisdom from above is trusting God ALONE (as He demands in Exodus 20.2-7).

Naturally then, man's wisdom, wisdom from below, is clearly distinguished by its antithetical characteristic of NOT trusting God ALONE (in any proportion).

Wisdom that is founded on the fear of the LORD (wisdom from above) is particularly and intentionally exclusive in its trust of God ALONE.

Wisdom that is void of the fear of the LORD (wisdom from below) may indeed acknowledge God, but is not particularly and intentionally exclusive in trusting Him ALONE.

As pointed out in Having S*x With The Devil, it is an adulterous relationship with the "immoral woman," Satan, that introduces wisdom void of the fear of the LORD. This wisdom from below indeed looks and sounds titillatingly good at first, but it cannot escape the customary payment due the whore from which it comes. 

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are not a believer's first love (God) and, in their whorish, idolatrous existence, they all require monetary payment for that which the believer's first love generously gives without payment (consider the abundance of Bible promises concerning finances, protection, health and conveniences). If nothing else said in this article makes sense, this paragraph should convince a true Bible believer of the gross idolatry all around them...

True wisdom, the wisdom from God, is found ONLY in His Word. As was established in Genesis 3, Satan's modus operandi was, is, and always will be to question God's wisdom (the fear of the LORD - trusting God ALONE), suggest an alternative, and sit back and gloat in the expensive destruction that follows. Satan is gloating today as the Church experiences all the same curses as the world and is powerless to do anything about it. In fact, the Church is so fearfully immersed in Satan's alternative wisdom (the idols of man's industry) that she does not even recognize the repeated warnings against such in the very Bible she "claims" to hold so dear.

Fear of the LORD is trusting Him ALONE rejecting every whorish alternative - man's ways and industry. This is true wisdom. This is true life. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when He said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Man's industrialized ways of debt, insurance, medicine and technology have become fixed idols in the Church. Their removal seems ludicrous as, in gross ignorance of God's Word, the Church cannot even imagine life without them and their wisdom from below. The Church fears doing without its idols infinitely more than it fears God (trusting in Him ALONE). It is no wonder that Hosea recorded God's statement:

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. [Hosea 4.6a]

The sad truth is, people will NEVER know God in His magnificent wisdom and provision as long as they insist on holding to their blinding, damning, idols of man's Godless wisdom. Jesus' Words in Matthew 16.24 make this truth relevant to "New Testament" believers. There is a reason Jesus told us what to do "first."

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. [Matthew 6.33 NKJV]

Fear of the LORD trusts God ALONE "first." It is indeed the foundation of God's wisdom. Any attempt to bypass God's order in this demand is idolatry.

Father, help us to see the truth of Your Word. Help us also understand that we will never see the truth of Your Word until we engage Your Word for ourselves. Help us to see that "good judgment" (wisdom from above) is impossible in our lives if we do not know You as You are revealed in Your Word. Help us to see that Jesus IS the revelation of Your Word and demands no less of us... So be it.

Having S*x With The Devil

So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death. [Proverbs 7.24-27] 

For all the focus on sexual purity that this passage begs us to consider, there is something far more serious lying within its narrative.

What follows contains strong, but Biblically accurate language. Be prepared, it will anger you or it will open your eyes... I pray, the latter.

I have, for years, read Proverbs 5-7 for the practical instruction it gives. However, in my One Year Chronological Bible reading observation on this day for the year 2015 (What Is God's Will?), I see that I began to understand the "immoral woman" as anything that is NOT God's will for my life. This year, 2026, that understanding has become much more refined, more mature, and more accurate as the message of the entire Bible has become clearer to me - the message of idolatry and our rescue from it in Jesus Christ.

We are given a critical contrast in the opening verses of today's One Year Chronological Bible reading that must not be overlooked:

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will show  discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned. For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. [Proverbs 5.1-4]

Notice "my wisdom" and "my wise counsel" in the passage above. And then, notice the word "For..." that alerts us to a contrasting statement that the lips of the immoral woman also provide wisdom and counsel albeit from another source. We would be amiss to ignore that the father's wisdom and wise counsel (Solomon's, in this case) are in fact in this passage being contrasted to the wisdom and counsel of an immoral woman. The father's wisdom and wise counsel can be conclusively associated with God's Word, which, by the way, is likened to a two-edged sword in Hebrews 4.12. The wisdom and counsel of the immoral woman is likened to a two-edged sword in Proverbs 5.1-4! We should conclude then, that the "wisdom and counsel" of both the Word of God and the immoral woman carry great potential! One for good and the other for evil! 

Furthermore, as was lightly discussed in What Is God's Will? in 2015, we can more accurately understand, based on the Bible's theme of "idolatry and our rescue from it in Jesus," that "'anything outside God's will" is idolatry. If the first three of the Ten Commandments give any indication of God's priority for our lives, that priority is unmistakably undivided trust in Him and Him ALONE. God's will is that we trust Him ALONE! It is Godly wisdom and wise counsel that lead us to strictly abide by this mandate.

BUT! These is another voice of "wisdom and counsel" that is nothing more than a God-damned whore whose compelling (sharp as a two-edged sword) words of "wisdom and counsel" renders people adulterers securing destruction for all who heed it: IDOLATRY.

Satan is that God-damned whore who lures us with dangerous words of worldly wisdom and counsel today just as he did in the Garden of Eden ("Has God really said...?" [Genesis 3.1]). Although it looks and sounds good, Satan's dangerous two-edged words of wisdom and counsel ultimately incite doubt of God's literal Word by presenting alternate ways that look and sound real good (they appeal to human reasoning).

What alternate wisdom and counsel have God's people today accepted that appeal to human reasoning? It should come as no surprise that man's industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology are rife with wisdom and counsel of human reasoning. However, until God's people wake up and see that they are having unrestrained sex with the devil, they too are damned. The Church's powerless condition today is not a "faith problem" but instead a "faithfulness problem" that it is 'sleeping with a whore' and even teaching it and endorsing it as "sound doctrine." The Church today effectively (and Biblically) confirms that God wants to provide money, protection, health and convenience for all His people, but it adds the nasty human reasoning that God uses debt, insurance, medicine and technology to do so. His miraculous work is effectively reduced to an industry of man in blatant violation of the first three of the Ten Commandments.

Every single reference to the "immoral woman" in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading is a reference to idolatry. It warns us against having sex with the devil by turning to idols. Our jealous God is saying the following directly to us regarding our relationship with Him versus with idols:

Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? [Proverbs 5.15-20]

Jesus addressed our "faithfulness problem" with just as much (if not more) conviction:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Father, may my words here only reflect Your heart as I have learned it from Your Word. May all Your people see how we have been lied to and lured to forsake our marriage relationship with You and embrace other lovers - idols. May we all abruptly give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. May we effectively repent and believe. So be it. 

Fear Of The LORD Is The Opposite Of Idolatry

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [Proverbs 1.7] 

The fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but what is the fear of the LORD?

The more I read the Bible, the more I recognize that the fear of the LORD is defined in Proverbs 3.5:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [Proverbs 3.5]

Fear of the LORD is the opposite of idolatry. 

All the knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment Solomon writes about is based on the fear of the LORD. Every benefit of knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment hinges upon us trusting the LORD with all our heart; not depending on our own understanding.

In fact, so convinced is a person who truly fears the LORD that they do not need the idols of the world. There simply is no need for debt, insurance medicine and technology when the fear of the LORD, the very basis of knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment, provides the following:

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. [Proverbs 3.21-26]

We MUST understand that Proverbs teaches that knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment CAN exist apart from the fear of the LORD. However, the end result of man's wisdom is not the same as the wisdom that comes from the fear of the LORD.

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. [Proverbs 3.7-8] 

The unrestricted power of God attends to wisdom based on trusting Him with all our heart. In contrast, the best result that can be expected from man's wisdom is only the best result that man's wisdom has accomplished... But not so with the wisdom that is from above - the wisdom that is based on trusting the LORD with all our heart (the fear of the LORD).

Every blessing described in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading is contingent upon the fear of the LORD. It only takes a little meditation of the passages of today's reading to see that every benefit of the fear of the LORD (trusting God with ALL our heart) has a non-fear of the LORD counterfeit in the ways of man's wisdom void of God: debt, insurance, medicine and technology.

Solomon divulges the secret that the fear of the LORD kind of wisdom he speaks of lies hidden in his proverbs and parables. NOT just everyone will "get it."

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. [Proverbs 1.5-6]

The gist of the entire Bible is to trust God wholeheartedly. Nothing else in the Bible can be understood in its full meaning if this basic truth is not established. This truth can only be established in the knowledge of God: the knowledge of His Word that teaches that He is God alone and demands our trust in Him alone. Again, nothing else in the Bible can be fully understood apart from foundational fear of the LORD - trusting the LORD wholeheartedly.

Fear of the LORD is the opposite of idolatry.

As Proverbs 3.21-26 above indicates, it IS indeed possible to lose sight of God's knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment. I am afraid this is the condition of the Church today. Oh sure, we claim knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment, but they are clearly man's version of such and not God's because they do not lead us to wholehearted trust in God. Instead, man's version of knowledge, wisdom, discernment, common sense and good judgment includes trusting in debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Anything we trust in, in addition to or, instead of God is an idol.

Father, may these words inspire inner reflection in us about what we trust - what we fear. May our conclusion be to trust in You with all our heart turning away from any and everything that competes for that trust. Open our eyes that this is precisely what Jesus demanded when He said, "give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me." So be it.