Friday, August 24, 2012

Oblivious To The Obvious

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also. (2 Timothy 3:8-9)

The same mindset that is described in these two men is described for us in Romans 1. Depravity in humanity suppresses the truth of God. Although men know God to be true, they try to smother His truth, to cover it up, to cloak it, and cloud it so that truth is not easy to see and perceive. According to Jewish tradition, these two men were some of those that opposed Moses in Pharoah’s court. Although not named in the Old Testament, Paul was acquainted with their opposition to Moses as magicians. If these are some of the magicians that were duplicating the miracles in Egypt, they soon discovered that they could not do all that God can do. This is a lesson for us today. God is often copied, but never cloned. His power is made manifest in some humans…but all cannot access Him. And the men who opposed young Timothy reminded Paul of the fate of the foolish. The inability and inadequacy of the fool who suppresses the truth is exposed to those who know the truth of God. This is our inoculation from folly. To know truth. Fools oppose and suppress the truth. Not because they can overcome it. Not because they deny truth’s existence. But folly will be on parade because the fool cannot be a servant. Folly cannot come under truth’s authority. Folly wants to be in charge…and in control. Fools will die in rebellion rather than bow in submission. Why? Because they are fools. Fools have said in their hearts that there is no God…and God will not influence their lives. You can’t cover up the truth. And you can’t cover for a fool. His folly will be so obvious to all and the fool will be oblivious to all his folly.  Pity the fool...says the Truth...or was that Mr. T?  A mind is a terrible thing to waste.  When it comes to the surrender to the truth of God, resistance is futile.  Depravity leads to wasted lives. That will be obvious to all.

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