Sometimes, events in man’s life may lead him to think that he has control of such life. His only faith is in the belief that he takes his destiny into his own hands. The world teaches this man that if he persists long enough, he will indeed succeed. I agree. Perhaps this statement may hold true. Yet still, I challenge this thought. For some things, man may have control over, but does that truly hold for EVERYTHING? Man may have control over his emotions. He may also have some control over his actions. But when it comes to his immediate and distant environment, is he able to control or manage those variables external to his being? For his lot, he forms part of the much bigger ecosystem of his life. Yes. Man fits into the ecosystem of life. In this ecosystem, man studies factors that may promote and ones that may hinder his aim. Though, no matter how much man may insist in moving according to his own track, almost always, man finds himself in places and situations unbeknownst to him. This is life. This is the unpredictability of man’s life. But I beg to ask myself, is man’s life really unpredictable or was he already told the things to come for his life? So how does man make plans or move when he is thrown into this game of probability?
I study from the book of Proverbs Chapter sixteen verse 9:
9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Now I consider reading from the book of Psalms Chapter 33:
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
From the bigger perspective, I am quite sure that man represents only a very tiny fraction of the much bigger creation of this world. Using the definition of faith, it also means, that there are potentially things high in the sky, deep in the waters, deep in the forest of things that man has not yet seen. Now for the popular question. Does one ONLY believe in the existence of something entirely based upon seeing? Must one see something first in order to believe it? The definition of faith instructs me to think otherwise. For I am led to think that I really should believe in all that is not yet seen. For if by chance, I were to truly dismiss the existence of something and then, out of nowhere, it suddenly appears, how little a time would I have to process all new things that I see and perhaps even hear. For sure, it may leave that one confounded!
Now I think to myself...
It must mean then, that faith helps one to mentally and spiritually prepare for the things to come.
In faith, one’s mind becomes stretched. One thinks much further to the point where he surpasses his peripheral vision to consider the things out of sight. Man is forced to imagine the things that are traditionally quite difficult to imagine. Man is forced into a position of faith when boundaries in his thinking become stretched. But I ask. Is man able to do this? Or is it by faith, man is taken to these ethereal places? I render this question a rather sensitive but highly important one.
I consider the word taken from the book of Matthew Chapter eleven:
27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
I also consider the word taken from the book of Sirach Chapter forty-two:
17 Not even to his holy ones has the Lord given full knowledge of all his marvelous works. The Lord, Master of the universe, has ordained that all should stand firm in his glory.
18 He penetrates both the depth of the abyss and the human heart and knows their secrets. For the Most High has full knowledge and ordains the signs of the heavens.
19 He knows the past and foretells the future and reveals the traces of the world’s mysteries.
So, by the Word, the Father establishes his plans which stand forever. But not everyone knows of the Father and his plans. It is by his Son’s choice, the Father becomes revealed.
Well, then, what decides who the Son chooses? What is his criteria for choosing who to reveal the Father to?
I consider the subsequent verses:
28 Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.
So, now I estimate that there is first a condition. In other words, man must first be humbled before he becomes laden with the true knowledge of his life. He must first fall down and experience much hurts before he can begin to receive learning from his Father. Simply put, man must first be in fear of his Father’s ways. It is the pain caused by his own follies that causes him to consider his ways and therefore show reverence and much respect for his Father’s laws. For those laws are for him, his only protection.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are those who live by his precepts. To him belongs everlasting praise. (Psalm 111:10)
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. (Psalm 119: 59,60)
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. (Psalm 119: 66)
The house of him who does not keep himself firmly in the fear of the Lord will soon be knocked to the ground. (Sirach 27: 3)
Man’s mercy is for his neighbour but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd. He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will. (Sirach 18:13,14)
You know, Yahweh, that man’s life is not within his own control and it is not for him to direct his steps! Correct us, Yahweh, with prudence, not in anger, lest you destroy us completely. (Jeremiah 10: 23,24)
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart; do not rely on your own insight. Let his presence pervade all your ways and He will protect your foot from the snare. Do not consider yourself wise, fear God, and turn away from evil. This will be a medicine to your body and a relief to your bones. (Proverbs 3: 5-7)
There is great security in the fear of Yahweh, his sons find refuge in Him. The fear of Yahweh is a life-giving fountain for escaping the snares of death. (Proverbs 14: 26,27)
Fate is thrown in the bag but the decision depends on Yahweh. (Proverbs 16:33)
Yahweh directs a man’s steps, who can know where his way leads? (Proverbs 20: 24)
Many seek a ruler’s favour but each one’s fate comes from God. (Proverbs 29: 26)
So, man receives a piece of knowledge about his life. This knowledge informs him of the things to come and the plans that are already established for him. His only task now is to consider whether he believes this word or not.
I study from the book of Proverbs Chapter sixteen verse 9:
9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Now I consider reading from the book of Psalms Chapter 33:
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
From the bigger perspective, I am quite sure that man represents only a very tiny fraction of the much bigger creation of this world. Using the definition of faith, it also means, that there are potentially things high in the sky, deep in the waters, deep in the forest of things that man has not yet seen. Now for the popular question. Does one ONLY believe in the existence of something entirely based upon seeing? Must one see something first in order to believe it? The definition of faith instructs me to think otherwise. For I am led to think that I really should believe in all that is not yet seen. For if by chance, I were to truly dismiss the existence of something and then, out of nowhere, it suddenly appears, how little a time would I have to process all new things that I see and perhaps even hear. For sure, it may leave that one confounded!
Now I think to myself...
It must mean then, that faith helps one to mentally and spiritually prepare for the things to come.
In faith, one’s mind becomes stretched. One thinks much further to the point where he surpasses his peripheral vision to consider the things out of sight. Man is forced to imagine the things that are traditionally quite difficult to imagine. Man is forced into a position of faith when boundaries in his thinking become stretched. But I ask. Is man able to do this? Or is it by faith, man is taken to these ethereal places? I render this question a rather sensitive but highly important one.
I consider the word taken from the book of Matthew Chapter eleven:
27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
I also consider the word taken from the book of Sirach Chapter forty-two:
17 Not even to his holy ones has the Lord given full knowledge of all his marvelous works. The Lord, Master of the universe, has ordained that all should stand firm in his glory.
18 He penetrates both the depth of the abyss and the human heart and knows their secrets. For the Most High has full knowledge and ordains the signs of the heavens.
19 He knows the past and foretells the future and reveals the traces of the world’s mysteries.
So, by the Word, the Father establishes his plans which stand forever. But not everyone knows of the Father and his plans. It is by his Son’s choice, the Father becomes revealed.
Well, then, what decides who the Son chooses? What is his criteria for choosing who to reveal the Father to?
I consider the subsequent verses:
28 Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.
So, now I estimate that there is first a condition. In other words, man must first be humbled before he becomes laden with the true knowledge of his life. He must first fall down and experience much hurts before he can begin to receive learning from his Father. Simply put, man must first be in fear of his Father’s ways. It is the pain caused by his own follies that causes him to consider his ways and therefore show reverence and much respect for his Father’s laws. For those laws are for him, his only protection.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are those who live by his precepts. To him belongs everlasting praise. (Psalm 111:10)
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. (Psalm 119: 59,60)
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. (Psalm 119: 66)
The house of him who does not keep himself firmly in the fear of the Lord will soon be knocked to the ground. (Sirach 27: 3)
Man’s mercy is for his neighbour but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd. He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will. (Sirach 18:13,14)
You know, Yahweh, that man’s life is not within his own control and it is not for him to direct his steps! Correct us, Yahweh, with prudence, not in anger, lest you destroy us completely. (Jeremiah 10: 23,24)
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart; do not rely on your own insight. Let his presence pervade all your ways and He will protect your foot from the snare. Do not consider yourself wise, fear God, and turn away from evil. This will be a medicine to your body and a relief to your bones. (Proverbs 3: 5-7)
There is great security in the fear of Yahweh, his sons find refuge in Him. The fear of Yahweh is a life-giving fountain for escaping the snares of death. (Proverbs 14: 26,27)
Fate is thrown in the bag but the decision depends on Yahweh. (Proverbs 16:33)
Yahweh directs a man’s steps, who can know where his way leads? (Proverbs 20: 24)
Many seek a ruler’s favour but each one’s fate comes from God. (Proverbs 29: 26)
So, man receives a piece of knowledge about his life. This knowledge informs him of the things to come and the plans that are already established for him. His only task now is to consider whether he believes this word or not.
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