It’s the Face

There is a story about Leonardo Da Vinci showing his painting of the Last Supper to one of his friends. Apparently, Leonardo had painted more than Jesus and his friends eating the Passover meal together; he had also painted two beautiful silver cups on the table just in front of Jesus. Leonardo’s friend was smitten by those glistening silver cups. He talked about them far more than about the image of Jesus in the painting. Leonardo grabbed a brush and began to remove the cups from the painting. He told his friend that it was not the silver cups he wanted the man to notice, but rather the face of Jesus: The Fear of the Lord (faith) and the true Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding of God.
There is a big difference between a wisdom, knowledge, and understanding which finds its origin in God… and a wisdom, knowledge, and understanding which finds its origin in man. On that difference, men and nations rise and excel, or they fall and perish. **Conflict always arises over those who are find and follow a false wisdom, knowledge, and understanding apart from God… and those who by God’s grace find and follow the true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding which exists in relationship with God and his Word. Why? Because they are diametrically opposed! They value opposite things and they seek opposite outcomes. David writes that God desires us to have, and he gifts us with truth in relationship with him. “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” (Psalm 51:6) Solomon writes, “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” He also writes, “The fear of the LORD [the OT formula for faith in God] is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One understands.” (Proverbs 2:6; 9:10)
We need God to reveal this truth to us because God says, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Not only is our own personal salvation dependent upon receiving and holding to the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God… but the entire world and universe works in conformity with the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God. “By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;” (Proverbs 3:19) So, if we want anything we do to prosper on earth, we will follow God’s counsel in his Word as well. The true wisdom, knowledge, understanding of God for us-finally and absolutely rests in God’s Son Jesus Christ. He is the true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God for us. He is our Savior and He is our salvation. It is therefore essential that we be and remain in relationship with him. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7-8) “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20) “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6) “… God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to acknowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) ” 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 speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” (1 Cor 2:6-7) “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13) “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17)
What we need to demand of ourselves is a living and vibrant relationship with the Triune God through the person, works, and words of God’s Son Jesus Christ our Lord. In him are true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God for us. It is only by living in that, that we, our children, and grandchildren will prosper today and forever.

** Please understand that what all quotes from scripture have been greatly abbreviated due to space. Holy Scripture is not in any regard silent on the subject of the true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding which finds its origin in God. (The word “wisdom” occurs 218x in 206 verses, the word “knowledge” occurs 132x in 130 verses, and the word “understanding” occurs 115x in 114 verses.) All quotes which follow are taken from the NIV translation.