". . . they . . . became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Romans 1:21, 22
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:16: "Be not wise in your own conceits." A conceited man is one who is very smart in his own estimation. He needs a good looking-glass so he can see how he looks to others. Conceit is a natural trait of the human heart. Man likes to strut and give the impression of being wise. A milder form of conceit is its negative aspect, refusing to admit your ignorance. A patient went to a young doctor with a skin rash all over his body. The doctor had never had a case like it before, and was deeply puzzled. He excused himself and went to his library to look up his malady, but could find nothing to help him. However, unwilling to admit his ignorance he asked the man, "Did you ever have this before?" "Yes," said the man, "twice before." "Ah yes, I thought so," said the sage, young M.D. "Well, you've got the same thing again!"
When I first began preaching I could answer every question in the book (such answers)! The older I become, the more often (and I mean "often") I must admit, "I don't know." May God deliver us from putting up a false front of wisdom, and teach us instead to say, "I don't know!" I am compelled again and again to resort to Deuteronomy 29:29 when people come to me with their questions.
Paul's charge against mankind was "Professing themselves to be wise they became fools." The man who is truly wise is the man who finds out that he is a fool without Christ, utterly deceived by the Devil into thinking he can by his own goodness and wisdom be saved. As long as a man rejects Christ, he is a fool.
The wisest man is he who, in complete abandonment of self, bows before the Lord. Christ then becomes unto him "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
"Bread For Each Day"
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