Proverbs 15:11-12 

¹¹ Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—how much more do human hearts! ¹² Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

Flag

In 1992 Olympics, the US Basketball Dream team won the gold medal. During the ceremony, Michael Jordan covered his shoulder with the flag of the USA. It was a very patriotic gesture for him to carry their US flag. But actually, he carried US flag of his shoulder to cover the logo of the company that sponsored their team. Michael Jordan was loyal to another company and did not want to promote the name of the company that sponsored the US basketball team.

Actually, many people are conscious of which picture they publish online. Some people would hide part of their body that they didn’t want to be seen in the picture. Others try to exaggerate their smile to appear like they were enjoying the moment. And media photographers will take as many pictures as they can and chose the picture they want to publish for subscribers to appreciate.

Do you strongly believe that God can see everything about us? It says in Hebrews 4:13, ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We cannot see the smallest bacteria, but God can see them. We cannot see the farthest planet, but God can see them. We cannot see the people on the other side of the globe, but God can see them at the same time he sees us. We cannot see body parts under our skin, but God can see them. He can also count the number of hairs on our head. Can you strongly believe that?

Do you believe the God can see what we will become few years from now? Can you believe that God can simultaneously see the past, the present and the future? Do you believe that God can see the day we’re born and the day we die at the same time? How strong do you believe that God knows our secret motive?

1.  Motive

¹¹ Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord —how much more do human hearts!

We do not know what other people think about us, their motives, but God can see them very clearly. Our naked eyes cannot actually see our heart or the hearts of other people, but God can see them visibly. Anything that exists is clearly exposed in the eyes of God. Nothing in this world is hidden before God.

So, if nothing in all creation that exists is concealed in the eyes of God, we have to be very prayerful about our personal agenda or motive. That is right! If we believe that God is gracious, we trust that he provides for our needs. If we believe God answers prayer, we should always pray to him. Whatever we believe about God, his power and sovereignty, should inspire us to behave accordingly.

Job

Imagine the husband of your friend is suffering from sickness. They have already spent everything they have for hospital bills but still his health is getting worse. The sick husband is in the hospital. You visited them. Your friend was frustrated and said to her husband, “Do you still believe in God, where is he?”

Such terrible situation has similarity to biblical Job. Job was afflicted with incurable disease. His properties was destroyed. His children died. And his wife challenged his integrity and advised him to curse God and die. Job suffered from painful disease but he declared the sovereign power of the Lord in Job 26:6. ⁶The realm of the dead is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered.

The realm of the dead pertains to eternal hell, and destruction pertains to eternal suffering. Job believed that God prepared terrible suffering in hell for anyone who rejected God. Job has temporal suffering from his illness but it is more terrifying pain to be thrown in hell. Faith in God help us imagine how terrible and painful to be thrown in the realm of the dead. Hell is described as realm of the dead because terrible suffering is not a great life a wise person desires.

When Christ promised life in its fullness, he wants us to aspire life in his eternal heaven where there is no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering. We have to be very intentional in our motive acceptable to God. Together, let’s reflect on what King David said in Psalm 139:7-12, ⁷Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹²even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

To be reminded that there is nothing can be hidden in the eyes of God, we want to be sure that our priorities should reflect our faith in Christ. We behave in a way that should help us store up eternal treasure for ourselves in heaven. Of course, anyone may claim to be Christian, but their behavior and priorities in life should expose their real spiritual condition. If they heed correction, they are wise. If they resent and disregard discipline from God, they are like unwise mockers.

2.  Mocker

¹² Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

The term “mocker” pertains to people who deride, scorn, ridicule or scoff on wisdom and righteousness. It’s a behavior that shows contempt or makes fun of divine laws or instructions. Mockers reject godly teachings; they ridicule godly principles. Most often, mockers oppose anything righteous, prudent and sensible.

In ancient Israelite culture, wisdom and instruction were highly valued, and the community was expected to adhere to the teachings of the Torah. Mocking or scoffing at godly teachings was seen as a serious offense, as it not only showed a lack of respect for divine authority but also threatened the moral and spiritual foundation of the community. The mocker was often portrayed as foolish person who reject wisdom and avoid understanding, leading to their own downfall.

Manasseh

          Trivia: Who had the longest tenure as king of Judah? Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 55 years.

His behavior was evil in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the abominable ways and practices of the nations that the Lord had driven out from Canaan. He built altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He worshipped stars. Everything he did was very undesirable to the Lord. It narrated in 2 Chronicles 33:10-13,

¹⁰The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. ¹²In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. ¹³And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

Manasseh was very young at 12 years old when he became king of Judah. And his adviser may have influenced him to do and practice things that were not acceptable to the Lord. But in his distress, he was wise to seek the Lord. The Lord listened to his sincere prayer and brought Manasseh back to his throne.

Many Christian who are very young in their faith in the Lord behave like King Manasseh and easily persuaded to follow practices that are not desirable to the Lord. God is gracious and loving. He disciplines the one he loves.

When we sense like God is disciplining us because of our undesirable behaviors, we should pray for wisdom to understand which righteous path to follow. It declares in Psalm 1:6, ⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Nothing is hidden in the eyes of God. God is gracious to take us back into his ways when we may be attracted to stroll or explore the wrong way. Let’s keep praying that God fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for us to discern which right path we should follow so that we may enjoy fullness of life.

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