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Take Me to the Beach

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Proverbs 1:7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

Summer officially begins June 20, 2025 but many have already begun heading to the coast to walk or lie on the beach, swim in the ocean or ride its waves. Those with personal experience can testify to its raw power. Even a passive observer can attest to the destructive power generated when the ocean becomes “angry.” In fact, I would dare say, most of us would whole-heartedly agree the ocean can kill you. Maybe the point of Solomon’s proverb is comparable. Scripture infers any person casually strolling through life ignoring God is a fool. Those who truly desire wisdom will submit to the revelation taking the necessary precautions to avoid disaster and eternal death. Taking the analogy even further you could add that it would be extremely foolish to say you love the ocean while ignoring the fact that it can kill you.

It was quite a revelation when I realized that Truth isn’t an abstract concept. It, or rather He, is a Person. Jesus said I AM the Truth. Imagine my shock when the Spirit revealed that Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs is also Jesus. Although Solomon refers to Wisdom as being female. A casual reading will reveal Wisdom is Jesus. Consider the following passages: Proverbs 1:23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 8:22-24 The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.23 I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.24 When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.

Proverbs 8:30-32 Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.

These are just a few of the verses that seem to point to Wisdom (the Word) being with the Father before Creation. What’s truly confounding to Twenty-First Century Christians (especially Western Worldview Christians), is the concept introduced in Proverbs 1:7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning… For the most part, Twenty-First Century, Western-Worldview Christians typically turn to the Lord when in need or want, and are prone to worship Him through routines, and rituals. (In other words, hearts typically remain hard and out of reach). We can be quite contented singing along with the Doobie Brothers, Jesus is just alright with me…Jesus He’s my friend. But how many would claim a fear of Him? Why would this idea seem preposterous? If Jesus can say: If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple. (Lk. 14:26 AMPC) – then surely fearing the Lord is the least of our problems. If we’re called to “hate” our family, spouse, children, and life – inevitably hating sin – shouldn’t we expect to hate anything that keeps us from His Presence? Should fear of the Lord lead us to hate anything that would keep us from remaining in His Presence? In other words, wouldn’t that be Wisdom? Wouldn’t praying for the Wisdom of James 1:5 simply be asking for the Presence of Jesus? Some would object to the harshness of this proverb claiming that they choose to love Jesus instead; that He’s their friend. Yet, Jesus said love for Him was defined by obedience and faith. If I love Him I will obey Him. If I obey Him I will be in His Presence. Thus, fear of the Lord is the beginning of not simply Wisdom, but Jesus. May I also add, those who have gotten “wet” from a wave of His Manifested Presence are fearful to be without it. As Peter exclaimed, Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too! May we be awash in a fear of the Lord that leads to the Feet of Wisdom, Truth, and Jesus.

Last Day Cowards?

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Throughout the Old Testament, God the Father, repeatedly calls people to revival and repentance. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus’ message to the seven churches echoes the same refrain. Why? Mt. 24:10-12 And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,… AMPC

As lawlessness, and iniquity increase the love of many grows cold. Sound familiar? Lk. 18:8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? AMPC

What’s frightening about this passage is its context: Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve and quicken it. Luke 18:1 Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). AMPC The parable ends with Jesus’ summation: Lk. 18:8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? AMPC

What’s the overall message? Lose your life – praying. Don’t become a coward and lose heart and give up praying. But when Jesus returns will He find people of faith – praying? What’s frightening about this passage? – We have arrived! I have been in ministry since the 80’s and have observed the attendance of corporate prayer dwindle down to a hand full of people. Why? We have lost heart because we have lost faith and hope. Losing heart is connected to this very thing. We have succumbed to a “spirit” (demon) of heaviness instead of having the Spirit of Faith and Hope!

Hosea 10:12 reminds us: Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. NKJV

Fallow ground is cold, hard ground. C.H. Spurgeon reminds us: “BREAK up your fallow ground.” Our nature at its largest is but a small farm, and we had need to get a harvest out of every acre of it, for our needs are great. Have we left any part of our small allotment uncultivated? If so, it is time to look into the matter and see if we cannot improve this wasteful state of things. What part of our small allotment have we left fallow? We should think very poorly of a farmer who for many years allowed the best and the richest part of his farm to lie altogether neglected and untilled. An occasional fallow has its benefits in the world of nature; but if the proprietor of rich and fruitful land allowed the soil to continue fallow year after year we should judge him to be out of his wits. The wasted acres ought to be taken from him and given to another husbandman who would worthily cherish the generous fields and encourage them to yield their harvests.

Jesus said, His house is to be a House of Prayer. Are churches ceasing to be Houses of God? You and I are to be God’s House. Are we ceasing to be God’s House because of a cold love, and a hard heart? Have we become cowards? The opposite of faith is fear. Faith and hope are what fuel prayer. It’s time to seek Him for rains of righteousness in the gift of tears to break up the fallow, cold, hardened soil of our heart.