SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1308

“Heart of Wisdom”

So, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

‘I have more years behind me than I have ahead of me’ is a popular statement made by those who celebrate a birthday in their elder years. I contemplated this saying as I celebrated another seventh decade birthday and, the more I thought about it the more I came to realize the fallacy of this statement. Our reference Scripture came to mind, and I sought to understand what a ‘heart of wisdom’ is.

• A heart of wisdom is found in God’s Word – the Holy Bible. The Living Word of God is to be kept within our heart.

Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:21-23

• Everyone, young and old, regardless of earthly age, has more years ahead of them than behind them. An eternal perspective is the heart of wisdom presented in God’s Word.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. – John 5:24

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6:12

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. – John 5:13

And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. – 1 John 2:25

• The years ahead of us are going to be lived out in one of two places. Our eternal destination is either in Heaven or Hell. A heart of wisdom leads us to salvation through Jesus Christ.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. – John 3:36

• Our life in the body on earth is not the end-all of life. We are spiritual beings living in a temporary ‘tent’ of a body. We are sojourners here on earth and for the born-again believer in Jesus, our citizenship is in Heaven. A heart of wisdom recognizes that there is far more to life than what we experience here on earth.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:20

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:17

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. – 2 Corinthians 5:1

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. – 1 Corinthians 15:44

• From the day of our birth, we do not know the number of our years. Who can say that they have more years behind them than ahead of them? A heart of wisdom lives every moment of every day for the glory of God, ready for His return or call home to Him at any time.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. – Psalm 139:16

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! – Psalm 39:4-5

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning – Luke 12:35

• If you are uncertain about your eternal destination, prayerfully seek a heart of wisdom through the Word of God that will lead you to repentance and salvation in Jesus.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. – Romans 13:11-14

May you have a heart of wisdom as the Word of God shapes and molds your heart, mind and soul for His good purpose. May you continually enjoy His abiding presence, in this life and for eternity.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24