Is there REALLY a benefit doing things God’s way?

Probing Proverbs 3:23–26 

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.
This passage is looking at what a person gains when they “hang on to “ common sense and discernment, which is one of the bi-products of Wisdom. Too many people think this whole “religion” thing is only about where you live after your body dies. It goes without saying that is the most important question to settle, because your body only makes it at best to 100 years, YOU will go on forever, and if the Scriptures are correct there is only two choices…with God or without Him. Having said that, my point is that if you choose not to live a meager existence that includes a religion, instead opting for an intimate relationship with your Creator, the benefits begin from the moment you enter that relationship.

One of the greatest blessings of having a relationship with God on this side of heaven is the peace that enters your life.

What exactly does this mean? The paths of wisdom are those avenues that not only have knowledge, but also know how to use it. Peace is that sense of calm no matter the circumstances. In every circumstance there is more than one path to take, but the one that uses wisdom is the one with peace. This applies in all cases. Consider: When you are confronted, what does wisdom say to do? Be humble. When attacked, wisdom’s path is love. When disappointed what does wisdom say to do? Thank God. This requires a prayerful approach to life, so even if your reaction must be immediate, inside yourself, you are moving slow and measuring your response. Engrafting God’s Word and communing with Him as a lifestyle will keep us on this path. Even in our most helpless condition – sound asleep – we are still safe! No matter what circumstances occur while we are so vulnerable, we can rest because whatever may come our way must first go through God Almighty! Even if death comes upon us, we need not fear, because even in death God has given us the victory. Disaster is when everything is lost! This can NEVER happen to us because our soul is safe in the palm of God’s hand! To go to sleep knowing the worst thing that can happen is to awake in heaven with Jesus. That’s Security!

The so what? There is really only one question we should ask ourselves at this point. Have we decided to go it alone in life and just hope for the best, or have we decided to entrust our life and our eternity to the God that made us? The Gospel is so clearly from the only Infinite mind in the universe! There are millions of beliefs and religions in this world and every one of them have one thing in common except the Gospel. All other Faiths require your effort and work to attain the eternity they promise, only the Gospel states: DONE! Works still matter, but not for attaining eternal life, that is a gift, paid for by our Creator. The works come after the relationship begins and are an outgrowth and evidence of that relationship. If the Gospel is so simple, why do so many resist it? It takes humility to admit that you are a sinner; you could never live good enough for God, and only what God did can bring you eternal life. That humility is admitting that there is a Sovereign God that should be the “Boss” of our life…problem is we want to be the boss! I still wrestle with that on a regular basis! Just because I am now forgiven, it does not mean I cease being a sinner. 
The difference is, all my sins have been forgiven because I asked Christ to forgive them. I still need to go to my Lord when I sin to ask for forgiveness and the power to repent (change direction). That is the difference between a relationship and fellowship. Now when I sin, my relationship is secure because Christ made me a child of God, but my fellowship is based on my moment to moment interaction with the Father. I am forever and always His child because of Christ, I am not always His friend! When I live in rebellion He may have to chastise me. So if you are saying: “I am not sinless, so I must be in trouble. Yet, if I am willing to admit I fall short of God’s perfection, agree that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, offered that life to pay for my sin, died and rose again, and now offers forgiveness of my sins and adoption into God’s family, then by telling Him that (prayer) and placing my complete trust in what Jesus did, asking Him to become my Lord and Savior…at that moment you have just changed the path of your life! Nothing will ever be the same again! There is much more to learn, but it begins with this step. Are you willing to take that step? Give yourself to God; you will never regret it.

Can this life make sense?

Probing Proverbs: 3:19-23 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky. 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.

How true this thought is! We have traded common sense for so called “science” that is built on theory, speculation and the assumption that everything in this universe was caused by some accidental cosmic gas! Good science is from God and has accomplished much good in this world. Scientific Theory is based on repeatable data, this means we can test again and again, and from that data make a conclusion. Science is not supposed to add assumptions and conjectures. It is a scientific fact that “brand X” soap floats, how do we know that, because we dropped a bar of that soap into a bucket of water 100 times, and each time it floated. We cannot recreate the creation of the universe. The origin of the universe and civilization is based on artifacts, and historical evidence. No matter which “theory” you choose to believe, an accident or a design, it requires faith. 
Is it really that ridiculous to look at the design of all around us, not to mention all that is in us…just how the human eye works for example...is it “blind faith” to believe there was a designer? Is it common sense to find a bone and from that bone tell us how it lived, behaved and died? From a bone? Even when they try to date that bone, no one ever discusses the “assumptions” that are being supplied, like everything was lead-free or quite a few assumptions concerning Carbon. I have no problem if someone wants to remove God from the picture and believe they that everything “just” happened, believing they are at the top of the animal chain, a glorified ape; that is their decision, I will respect that and not demean them. What I don’t understand is why they think it makes no sense that a designer with wisdom made all there is. Both take faith, and the evidence for a designer and that humans are a unique creation, no other living thing on this planet possesses a God consciousness and a moral consciousness, humans alone do, so a Designer makes perfect sense.

To make sense of our world and our existence we must decide which path we will live on. If you are nothing more than an accident, then life is based on luck and fate. It is difficult to sense purpose or destiny on that path. If, however, you take the path of Devine design, and seek to know the Designer, your life was on purpose, and Someone greater than you or your parents wanted you here. When you have purpose and destiny, you can take what appears to be non-sense, and with help from your Maker, discern where the common sense is. You will never understand everything…how can the finite understand the Infinite…still, with His help, you will be able to navigate life and enjoy what it should be.

When we consider how important wisdom is in our life, we need to see how God has structured it to be a partnership between His input and our input. Some try to make wisdom all God and none of us. However, the words paired in this Proverb demonstrates that partnership. Our common sense must be used, as God grants us discernment. We are accountable to use the mind God gave us to learn from the lessons life produces. As we weigh our decision in that light, we also seek God’s gift of discernment. Those two abilities work together enabling us to take knowledge, (data) and know how to use it. Yes, there are times when we are at a loss and God alone supplies all we need, but His norm is to increase our growth by making us use what we have and then He fills in the gaps.

The so what?  What do you believe concerning the existence of the universe? Why? What do you believe about your existence? Why? Is it possible to you that a Being (God) planned you, working in concert with your parents? They participated in your creation, yet God was intimately involved also. What would that reality do to your self worth? Are you willing, in spite of ridicule from some, to commit yourself to seek “sense” in this life and then seek God for discernment?