The Mystery of Wisdom

In the 1999 movie, “The Matrix,” Morpheus speaks to Neo who is searching for answers.  “The Matrix is everywhere.  It is all around us. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth  —  that you were born into a prison for your mind.  [  ] Take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. Take the red pill and stay in wonderland, and I will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. — All I’m offering is the truth, nothing more.”

This science fiction thriller contained an amazing amount of metaphorical truth with much relevance to life today.  The premise of truth being hidden or rejected for a preferred reality is not just contemporary, but goes back to Adam and Eve’s encounter with the serpent.  The Apostle Paul faced it head-on when he was planting churches in the first century.  The cover-up has to do with man’s wisdom.  We celebrate the intellect, perhaps giving God credit for creating man thusly, but ultimately relying on those wise individuals to give direction in everything from child-rearing to creating smart-weapons.

Considering this reliance on man’s wisdom, Paul makes a bold assertion in proclaiming Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).  He goes on to explain in 2:6-7 & 10, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”  “But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” Paul calls the wisdom of the world foolishness compared with the surpassing wisdom of God.  But the world in all its wisdom does not grasp this reality.  Even Solomon, gifted by God with more wisdom than any other man, made detrimental mistakes that split his kingdom, and teetered on the verge of madness and depression, having exhausted his ability to explore wisdom.

Obviously, man’s wisdom can get us into trouble, but the Spirit searches all things, providing wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17). Paul presents a pathway to this in saying, “But we have the mind of Christ.” (2:16)  Really??  Paul explains that “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (2:11), therefore we cannot have the mind of Christ without the indwelling of Holy Spirit (that Solomon lacked).  As Neo needed the red pill to open his eyes, we need Holy Spirit in order to discern and operate in wisdom.  Like the rabbit hole, God’s wisdom goes deep, except that we will never reach the limits of His depths — there are none. Trusting Man’s definition of wisdom is the epitome of unwise.

For every upsetting, depressing, critical headline of today, we can be assured that God has not been taken by surprise, nor is He wringing His hands regarding what to do. The Spirit of wisdom counsels, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)  So, truth has been uncovered and the mystery of wisdom has been explained.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable His judgments,
    and His paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33)

God is working His plan and has invited us to participate.  Are we willing to trade our wisdom for His?

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.
    To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”  (Romans 11:36)