To Shine as the Heavens and the Stars

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

It is written: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3) -- “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (I Cor. 1:19-21)

To the untrained these passages may seem to be somewhat contradictory. There are two types of wisdom that are under consideration - a wisdom of the world and a wisdom of God. There are many men and women that are quite brilliant in the elements of this world, like science, finance, politics, leadership, etc.; yet they are absolute ignoramuses when it comes to the things of God. Of their own wisdom many think they have all the answers to religion and the Bible. It is next to impossible to discuss with them the Scriptures because they haven’t a clue to the understanding of them. It is by their great earthly wisdom they are confounded and know not God. God operates by His own rules of wisdom, and His wisdom cannot be fathomed by carnal men and women. As it is written: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor. 2:13-14)

Now, those who are endowed with the wisdom of God are in possession of the greater wisdom, though it makes no sense to carnal man. But, “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” The lost cannot be turned to the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus by the conjuring up of man’s puny wisdom. True salvation and the unveiling of righteousness out of the Word of God require God’s wisdom. The word “turn” from the Hebrew has the idea of causing or teaching. Causing others to follow in the way of true righteousness will cause you to shine as the heavens and the stars.