GENERATIONAL CONDEMNATION
OR
GENERATIONAL WISDOM
SUNDAY OCT. 13, 2019
Scripture To Consider:
“And the Lord said, ‘To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying; “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you and you did not weep.”’”
“For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7.31-35
Something To Consider:
Every generation has a choice as to what they will be likened to, compared with, or remembered for. The generation of Jesus and John, to say the least were fickle. The Pharisees and lawyers, the long-standing religious ruling body, had rejected the revealed will of God witnessed in the life of John the Baptist. They refused to be baptized for the remission of their sins for one of possible two reasons. First, they thought of John as an eccentric religious fanatic who had removed himself from the everyday lifestyle of the majority.
And the second possible reason they refused to be baptized by John was that as false religious leaders they saw themselves without sin and therefore without a need for forgiveness of sin, repentance from sin, or baptism because of their turning from sin. Evidently their final confession of John was that he had a demon. They considered him totally out of touch with reality. As these religious leaders, the world is becoming more liberal. Therefore, those attempting to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer more and more persecution according to 2 Timothy 3.12.
Also, according to the apostle Paul, the generational condemnation of this 21st century is that evil men and imposters or false prophets, will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, according to 2 Timothy 3.13. Paul then continued his warning against generational condemnation in verse 14, by instructing, “But you [true believer in Christ] must continue [must endure to the end] in the things which you have learned [things Jesus taught] and be assured of knowing from who you have learned them.”
Something Else To Consider:
And at the other end of the spectrum there was this Jesus of Nazareth, the son of a carpenter. His credentials were questionable, at least according to the so-called religious leaders of His day. He was after all, born in a borrowed stable among various barnyard livestock. He was raised in Nazareth, twig town, that place where it was thought that no good thing could come from. And if that was not enough, He voluntarily mingled with tax collectors, lepers, and Gentiles, and was found eating and drinking with sinners as often as the opportunity allowed itself.
Their final estimation of Jesus, according to Jesus Himself was, “Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is justified by all her children.” And yet, wisdom has two faces and two end results. There is the wisdom of the world, which according to the Word of God, is foolishness. But also, according to the Word of God, in 1 Corinthians 1.24; “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks [Gentiles], Christ is the power of God and [Christ] is the wisdom of God.”
Paul continued his thoughts in verse 25 of 1 Corinthians chapter 1, by stating, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
Something More To Consider:
The wisdom of John’s cry for repentance and the wisdom of Jesus’ call to come and see, have both been justified by the many lives that have been dramatically changed for the better both here and for eternity. The wisdom of John and Jesus has rescued generations of those near ruin from alcohol, drugs, sexual immorality, divorce, violence, abuse of all kinds, and other sinister strongholds.
Wisdom is justified by her children. But what will be the final verdict imposed upon this present generation? Will it be spiritual condemnation, or will it be congratulations awaiting us for choosing or refusing the wisdom of God’s glorious life changing Word? This is a question well worth answering! Will we choose to remain foolish in the eyes of God, or will we apply our hearts to the wisdom of God’s Word?
James wrote in his letter in verse 5 of chapter 1; “If any of you lack wisdom [the wisdom gained through God’s Word], let him [or her] ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it [wisdom] will be given to him [or her]. But let him [or her] ask in faith, with no doubting, for he [or she] who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Have we asked for God’s wisdom?
A Few Final Words:
The writer of Proverbs was described as the wisest man who ever lived. He declared in Proverbs 2.6, “For the Lord gives wisdom [generational wisdom]; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” From the mouth of the Lord, that is, every Word of God that proceeds from the mouth of God contains wisdom. And yet, according to Jeremiah 9.23, “Let not the wise man [or women] glory in his [or her] wisdom.” Wisdom is a gift from God and not of ourselves!
Which will it be as we fast approach the end of this age of man’s rule upon planet earth? Will we be found guilty of generational condemnation due to our refusal to obtain the wisdom of God from God’s Word? Or will we be found innocent of all wrong doing because we chose the generational wisdom of observing all things Jesus commanded?
We are commanded by the Holy Spirit in Colossians 3.16; “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your [our] hearts to the Lord.” What song therefore, will we sing today?
Biblical wisdom is a powerful and proven spiritual weapon against all forms of condemnation and a justified godly ingredient in our obtaining eternal life!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, continue to rescue the wounded and broken hearted of this generation. And if it be Your will, use us in the process. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 