“Leave the presence of a [shortsighted] fool, For you will not find knowledge or hear godly wisdom from his lips.”

Proverbs 14:7 AMP

I have heard it said that “a man is known by the company he keeps!” Our verse today gives us good insight into the influence of those around us. The Scripture tells us to “leave the presence” of the foolish and shortsighted man.” The word used here in the Hebrew is foolish. The word is used to identify one who is “completely lacking understanding and rebelling against a known standard or truth.” Doesn’t that describe what is going on in the world today! Remember in Proverbs 10 verse 1 we read that the end of the foolish son was grief? The reality of this life is that God has created the universe on operational truths. Newton’s laws of physics. The theorems of Geometry. The laws of mathematics. I could go on and on. These established laws are what allow us to live our daily lives and harness knowledge bringing new discoveries for life. One simply cannot ignore the reality of existence just because one believes that something else is true! Failure and disaster will certainly be its end. 

I remember that the first book of the Bible I ever read was the book of Proverbs. When I read the book, I was in the beginning stages of knowing God. I was still in my rebellious state and had not yet received Christ as my Savior. Even in my stupors state from the drugs, as I read the book, I saw three distinct people: the wise man, the naive, and the fool. The wise man seemed to have it all together. Everything always worked out and he loved God. The naïve man was the many who just didn’t even know or understand the way of truth. But the fool, he was the one who knew what the path was but chose instead to walk his own way. That night, I realized that I was to fool!  I remember wanting so badly to be the wise man who loved God and lived successfully. I cried out that night to God to help me find the way. He heard my cry! One of my favorite verses that describe my rescue from sin is the following.

“I waited patiently and expectantly for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps, and establishing my path. 3He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the LORD.”

Psalms 40:1-3 AMP

My friends, I am a testimony that the Word of God is alive and true! If God was able to cut through the chaos of my life, there isn’t a person on this planet that He cannot reach if they will listen! The Scripture is clear about this world,

“18For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19For it is written and forever remains written, 

“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE [the philosophy of the philosophers], AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER [who do not know Me] I WILL NULLIFY.” 20Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior].

1 Corinthians 1:19-21

Do not think for one minute that this world and its philosophies will ever bring you to a place of freedom. Only the knowledge and wisdom of the Word of God hold the power to set a person free from sin and death. That is why it is feared by those in power because it will set the captive free from the deception of the enemy. Today the world needs those who will bring forth the unadulterated Word of God and demonstrate its power to those who are living as prisoners in the land of death and darkness! What about you? Are you ready to let your light shine so other can be free?

Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken