Wise In Their Own Eyes

Wise in Their Own Eyes   (Prov 3:7)

To better organize this message, I divided it  into two categories:  Unbelievers and Believers  who are  'Wise in their own eyes.'  

I chose my extended family as an example of  unbelievers  who lack scriptural knowledge, yet  offer their opinions  in matters of faith. They lack knowledge of both Old and New Testaments, yet still, are 'Wise in their own eyes.'  They still believe Jesus was a famous rabbi  who walked the earth, not the Messiah.

My family members are spiritually blind.  2Cor 3:14 tells us:  "But their minds were blinded;  for until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ."

Only faith in Jesus will cause the veil to be lifted. Then the blind will see who He is.

The second category of people who are 'Wise in their own eyes'  are those calling themselves  believers, even church leaders, who spew false doctrine contrary to God's word.  These  'believers'  either have a sinister agenda to deliberately lead people astray.  Or, they are  'wise in their own eyes,'  thinking they know better than what's written in God's word. 

For forty years, I've  earnestly attempted to reach my family regarding the Lord ... that Jesus is their Messiah ... that He's come and gone ... and  that He's returning soon. 

And He's not coming back as a lowly carpenter, but as the 'Lion of Judah'  who, at the Great White Throne Judgment, will separate the sheep (believers) from the goats (unbelievers).  The sheep will live with Him in heaven for eternity. But the goats will spend eternity in a very unpleasant place.

But, they're  just not interested in discussing salvation issues.  It's as if they're telling me in so many words  without wanting to hurt my feelings:

'David, we're Jewish and we're the chosen people.  God has already chosen us.  So, why do we need to believe in a gentile Savior?'  'To save us from what?'

I love the people in my family. But, as God's word says of the Israelites of old, the same holds true for my family  ...  they're  'stiff-necked.'

When Jewish people  are asked  what  'being chosen by God'  means,  most have no clue as to its spiritual meaning.  Only the worldly meaning:  Being blessed with possessions and social status.

They don't understand they were chosen by God to deliver the 'good news'  to the world,  of which most Jews have no knowledge.

The Jewish culture prides itself on education and learning.  But, the culture and even its religious leaders, as it says in 2Tim 3:7,  " (are) always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."  The truth that Jesus is the Messiah.

For years, I've been trying to share Jesus with my family:  Who Jesus is, Why He came to earth;  How  all  people from  all  religions and  all  walks of life, need Him desperately.  Only my nephew, now in his mid-twenties, has opened his heart. 

And throughout the years of sharing Jesus with them, having little success, I can't imagine how Jesus must have felt being rejected by so many of his brethren.  And He's still being rejected today.  Jesus said in Mark 6:4,

'A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.'

I'm obviously not a prophet.  I'm a man who loves God.  It's as though they're thinking:  'It's just David.  What does he know?  He has no formal theological training.  He has no theological degree.'  'It's just David.'

But I continue  my efforts, to try and pluck my unbelieving family from the fire.  I continue  to warn them  they won't be allowed into heaven without Jesus as their Messiah. But, they'd rather listen to the rabbis who are  'wise in their own eyes,' and assuring  those  in my family:

'Your good deeds will get you to heaven.'  'All  good  people go to heaven.' 

But, Isa 9:16 says: "For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed."

Thinking they're wise, most rabbis don't know  Jesus said in Matt 7:13-14,  "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."                    It's a case of  'the blind leading the blind.'  Those  'wise in their own eyes'  leading others who are  'wise in their own eyes.'

Rather than taking the time to read God's word, they'd rather listen to sources they consider to be  'wise.'  And I know many here  feel frustration  when their words  fall to the ground, rejected by those they desperately want to see saved.

And how  frustrating  it is to  know the truth  about salvation.  Yet, so many either don't  have or want,  'ears to hear and hearts to receive.'  It's as though they say to  each other:   'Oh, It's just  'so-and-so'   babbling about his faith  that doesn't apply to us.'   

They're  'wise in their own eyes,'  rejecting Jesus and His free gift of salvation.

They can't see  their eternal destiny is being held in the balance between heaven and hell.  I can almost feel the sorrow the Lord must have felt when His own brethren  whom He came to save, rejected His  'Words  of life.'   They chose to follow the advice given by their religious leaders, 'wise in their own eyes.'

Matt 13:55-56  tells us  what the people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth thought about  Him:

“Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary and aren't his brothers  James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”  

A few years ago, my brother in law texted to me a video made by a man who introduced himself in the video as  'pastor.'  The lies and falsehoods  this man spewed truly upset me. 

And I commented to my brother-in-law that the man is as much a pastor as Hitler was a rabbi.  He wasn't happy  with my comment and  rejection of this apostate pastor's words.

By sending me this video, my brother in law  was essentially saying  my theology  taken from scripture was 'flawed.'  But, this so-called pastor's words were  'truth.'  

Again, my family members are  clueless to what's contained in scripture because they  don't have the desire to read the word.   

Q:  So, why did this man's words  resonate with my unbelieving brother in law  but my words  were rejected?  Was it because the words came from me?  'Oh, it's just David.'  

Or, was it because the man's words  'tickled my brother in law's ears?'  The falsehoods  were easy to receive because they affirmed what my brother in law believes even though he has no scriptural foundation to believe anything spiritual.  Only his biased opinion.  My brother in law is another example of a man who is,  'wise in his own eyes.'

If a person doesn't  know God's word, how is it possible to differentiate the truth from falsehood?  And isn't this one of  many ways  the enemy traps people?  With  lies that sound  reasonable  if  a person doesn't know the truth.

Hosea 4:6  says,  “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."

And in Rev 2:7, Jesus said:  'He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying.' What the  Spirit  is saying.  Not, what a worldly news source  or  someone outside the faith has to say, as the deceitful words  play on a person's emotions.

Those of us attempting to bring people into the Kingdom  become frustrated when we  see  lack of interest  in their eyes. They appear polite while listening to us  'babble.'  But, likely consider our words  irrelevant and boring. 

1Jn 4:6 says,  "We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us."

My family members and those of similar thinking  are like blind men stumbling in  darkness: 

They don't  have eyes to see ... the freight train racing towards them. 

They don't  have ears to hear ... the blaring whistle warning  that danger will soon be upon them;  warning them to get off the crooked path leading to death and onto the straight path leading to life. 

They're like  ostriches  with their heads buried  in the  'sand of indifference.'

2Cor 4:4  tells us:  "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel  that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

The bible calls people like this  'stiff-necked.'  Rather than desiring to know God's truth and His will for their lives, they'd rather  not know   and live life  their way.

They'd rather trade a mansion and streets of gold  in heaven  for earthly things:   

Like Esau in Gen. 25, who  thought he was  'wise in his own eyes,'  giving up  his birthright  and family leadership to Jacob.  Why?  For some bread  and lentil stew.

I found this message  on the website,  Seeking Scripture,  by Christy Jordan who said this about being stiff-necked:

"This morning I’m thinking of how stiff-necked we are. Stubborn, sure of our ways regardless of mounting evidence proving our own folly (stupidity). We rush right on, head first, full speed ahead. Blinded by human arrogance, worshipping the faulty wisdom of the god in the mirror."   In other words,  'Wise in our own eyes.'

Ps 95:7-11 says, "Today, if you will hear His voice; do not harden your hearts, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work.  For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.  So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.' "   God's rest is heaven.

Yet, so many unbelievers and even some believers say in their heart:  'Sorry God, but I think I know what's best for me.'  I'll just keep You on the shelf until I need You.'  'Amen.'

Prov 3:7  adjures us:  "Do not be wise in your own eyes."   Don't continue in your stiff-necked ways, in  pride and arrogance, thinking  we know better than God.  Or, thinking we're  better  than we really are.  That, we're ok with God.

In Jer 6:16, God tells the Israelites:  "Stand in the ways  (God's ways)  and see, and ask for the 'old paths,'  where the good way is, and walk in it; there you will find rest for your souls.  But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'  Also (God says) I set watchmen over you, saying,  'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!'  But they said,  'We will not listen.' " 

Where is this attitude coming from  except from the pit of hell?  Being  'Wise in their own eyes.'  Thinking they know better than God.  Giving  little or no thought to God, or to His ways. 

Jer 6:10 says of them:  "...the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it."

Then, in Jer 6:19, God lays out the  consequence for being  'Wise in our own eyes': 

"Hear, O earth!  Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people-the fruit of  their thoughts, because they have not heeded My words, nor My law, but rejected it."

For decades,  I spent time talking to my brother about Jesus.  Once, he came with me to church and even answered the altar call to receive the Lord.  Apparently, he didn't take his commitment seriously. 

He continues  to suffer from depression and alcohol addiction.  He refuses  to humble himself and call on Jesus for help.  He refuses to pray.  He refuses  to read the word.  He refuses  to  seek God's face.  He refuses  God's  will for his life.

His mantra has been:  'I'll figure it out.'   He's blinded to the truth.  But, he still considers himself,  'Wise in his own eyes.'   Like my brother in law, even though my brother has  no knowledge of scripture, he considers what he believes is correct.  But, thinking according to scripture,  is wrong.  Left-leaning people  are  right  in their thinking whereas  conservative thinking is  generally wrong.

Not too long ago, my brother and I took a trip to Missouri.  While there, we discussed a potpourri  of topics: family,  religion,  politics, his physical and mental well-being, how important it is for him to establish a personal relationship with Jesus.

When the discussion turned to President Trump, he became 'triggered' and upset Trump won the election. He, my family members, and other left leaning people can't understand why so many Christians voted for,  'Trump, the  antichrist.'

My brother espoused  all sorts of reasons why Christians shouldn't be supporting Trump;  telling me things  he heard from  sources that  misquote the bible - the very book he neither reads nor has knowledge.

My brother, brother in law  and others blinded to the truth ... do have worldly  wisdom.  But regarding matters of faith,  they're just   'Wise in their own eyes.'

1Cor 3:19 says:   "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God."

My brother recently texted me a meme to read ... because it supports his view of Trump.  Like my brother in law, my brother was attempting to show me my views of Trump are wrong.  But, the creator of this meme is correct.   Why?   

My world view, as seen through the eyes of scripture,  collides with the views held by this meme's creator and my left-leaning brother.

The meme  shows a red Trump hat with  'Make America Great Again'  sewn on the forehead  of the cap.  On the brim of the cap, there is an overlay that quotes this: 

"The bible predicted that Christians would follow a false prophet and that they would wear his mark on their foreheads  (Rev 13:16-17)

Those of us who know God's word  immediately recognize  this verse has been deliberately  'twisted'  with the  intent to deceive.  And a person  'wise in his own eyes'  like my brother,  who  only  thinks he knows  what's written in the bible, couldn't recognize that  'Christians would follow a false prophet'  is a misquote. 

What  Rev 13:16-18  really says:

"He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom.  Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:  His number is 666."

Do we see the deception and duplicity  by  deliberately  replacing  the words,  'All people,'  with the word,  'Christians?'   

I noticed this particular meme came from a far left website,  Occupy Democrats.  But, it could have  come from any political website  whose objective is to deceive Christians into not supporting Trump.

Q:  And what does scripture warn us would be one of Satan's greatest weapons in the last days?   'Deception.' 

Deception  will run rampant as it's running now.  Those who think  they know the truth - who think  they know by what they hear from unreliable sources - who think  they're  'wise in their own eyes'  - will be greatly deceived by antichrist.  And it won't  be good for them on Judgment Day --- because they thought  their  ways were  better  than  God's ways.

And I fear the very people  to whom we're attempting to show the truth  will be the same people  the bible says, will one day,  give us up  to antichrist authorities because of our faith in Christ.  In John 16:2-3  Jesus says, 

"They will put you out of the synagogues (churches);  yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service ... because they have not known the Father nor Me."

Jesus said in Matt 10:36, " a man's enemies will be those of his own household."

The Bible warns us  in the last days, 'Deception and Lawlessness'  will abound. 

What's happening now?  False prophets and  'false Christs' are arising to deceive many. 

But, people can only be deceived  if they  don't know  the truth:  

-Those who  would rather be  'wise in their own eyes.'   

-Those who  don't have the love of Jesus in their heart.  

Brothers and sisters, we know all too well:

--The world hates us because  we love and follow Jesus.

--The world hates us because we refuse to believe what they believe.

--The world hates us  because  we refuse  to walk in the darkness  they walk;  blind

   to the truth.  'The Truth'  goes against their narrative.   'Darkness hates light because light exposes their corruption.'

Jesus said in John 3:19-20,  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." 

The deceived attempt to deceive the righteous.  They use deception so we leave the straight path leading to everlasting life, onto the crooked path,  on which they walk, leading to eternal destruction.

This is why it's  so important  to know God's word, especially in these final days because the word is the 'Anchor of our Soul.'  It gives us 'wisdom and understand- ing,'  far more precious than gold or silver.

The word  teaches us  how to discern truth from falsehood. 

It  teaches us  not to be  'wise in our own eyes,'  but  'wise in God's eyes.'

It teaches us  not to give credence to falsehoods spoken by political leaders,  globalists, apostate clergy, or anyone else trying to distract and deceive us away from  the straight path of God's righteousness.

The bible admonishes us in Prov 4:14-17, 

"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.  Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.  For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;  and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence."

Regardless of  what  unbelievers hear  from  sources other than the Holy Spirit,  when the Spirit  speaks to us:

--Do  we  have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying?  

--Do  we  stop what we're doing and listen to His directions?

--Are  we  just hearers, or also doers  of what God commands us to do?

--Are  we  indifferent to His voice when He speaks to our heart, saying: 

'It's the Lord's day and time to worship the Lord in church.' 

But, some reply:   'Yes Lord.  I know I should attend church this morning.  But I'd rather go golfing.'  I'd rather  'finish the yard work.'   I'd  rather  go to that picnic we've been invited to.'

"Stubborn, sure of our ways regardless of mounting evidence proving our own folly (stupidity). We rush right on, head first, full speed ahead. Blinded by human arrogance, worshipping the faulty wisdom of the god in the mirror."  

 'Wise in our own eyes,'  but reprobate in God's eyes.  Let it not be so for us!

Q: But, what about the  'believer'  who  thinks  he's  spiritually wise?

Q: What about  religious leaders  who say they know the Lord and His word?  

Yet,  they preach false doctrine  contrary  to the word.   Pope Francis  invited 'wokism'  into the Catholic church  and allowed  Catholic priests to openly bless  same sex couples  despite God's word declaring in 1 Cor 6:9  that homosexuality is sinful.  Just as adultery and fornication are sinful.

And why do some pastors  allow their churches to display gay pride flags;  or hold gay pride events inside the church?  

The pope and other religious leaders  embracing sin  are more examples of being  'Wise in their own eyes'  but reprobate  in God's eyes.  "Forever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth."  Choosing what he thinks is right over what God tells us is right.

1Jn 2:4  says:  "He who says, 'I know Him'  and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."  They're  'wise in their own eyes,'  as they give  in to sin and error.

Paul tells us In  2Cor 13:5,  "Examine yourselves as to whether you are (even) in the faith.  Test yourselves."

Isaiah 56:10-11  speaks of reprobate clergy who are  'wise in their own eyes': 

"His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.  Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough.  And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain."

Q:  And what does the bible say would be the  response  of those  'Wise in their own eyes'  if we attempt to instruct them in the truth?

Prov 9:7-10  says:  "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;  (But) Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

The video my brother in law  and meme my brother sent to me are attempts to deceive the righteous;  attempts to divide and conquer Christians because our strength in Christ is greater than the lesser strength given to them by the enemy.

Without a firm knowledge of scripture,  without feet firmly planted on the Rock of our salvation, chances are people will believe the deceptive words spoken by deceivers.

Paul tells us in Eph 5:6-11,  "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience  (those who are wise in their own eyes).  Therefore do not be partakers with them.  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light ... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."   

--We, who love the Lord, have been redeemed from the power of darkness by the  

   Blood of the Lamb. 

--We're to bring people to the light and to the truth as we redeem the time waiting for Christ's return. 

--We cannot  succumb to deceptive words coming from anyone's lips:  No matter how loving they appear; no matter how reasonable their words may sound;  no matter whether their friend or family --  

If anyone spews  false doctrine and personal beliefs rather than what's written in God's word ... it's because they're deceived  and  'Wise in their own eyes.' 

And again, as Paul admonishes us,  "Let no one deceive you with empty words ... Walk as children of light."

 How can anyone call himself a follower of Christ:

When he thinks his ways are better than God's ways;

When he thinks he knows what's best  rather than what God  knows  is best;

When he chooses  his opinion over God's word;

When he is  'wise in his own eyes'  rather than wise in God's eyes?

But to those of us  who  hunger and thirst for righteousness,  who  fear God and remain obedient and faithful to His word ... God promises us in  Malachi 4:2-3,

"But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet ..."

Prayer:  Lord, we know Your promises to us are 'Yes, and Amen.'  Help us to stand firm in our convictions and in our love for You that we never waiver or cower in fear when  facing the enemy. 

As  David said in Ps 119:11,  help us to hide Your word in our heart that we might not sin against You.

And help us, Lord, to be  'Wise in Your eyes,'  not  'Wise in  our own eyes.'

AMEN.