Ezra is walking at least as much as he’s crawling now, but he can climb seemingly impossible things. He reminds me at once of his sister and his daddy when they were his age. Parenting a child learning to walk is more damage control than coaching but as they begin to comprehend more of our verbal instructions, we can relax a bit, take a step back and let them monitor and adjust on their own. Sometimes all the warnings in the world won’t stop a toddler, a teen, or an adult for that matter from learning the hard way, by painful experience.
I remember my papa teaching me to drive a manual transmission when I was twelve. I was tall for my age, having outgrown his mother by fourth grade, but my legs were barely long enough to reach the clutch and brake of his salvaged dump truck while perched on the front edge of the seat. My cousins and I had been driving a makeshift go-cart and various riding mowers on my grandparents’ farm since we were much younger. Papa’s plan was, I believe, to teach me to drive the biggest and most difficult of his vehicles so I would never be intimidated by anything else. I did something very similar with my kids and their friends when they first got their permits, allowing them to drive my Hummer H2. Although it was an automatic, it was a beast, taking up every inch of your lane but feeling like it spanned the entire road. Only once did I regret offering the lesson.
We want our kids to learn from our mistakes so we avail ourselves of teachable moments, passing on what we know to the next generation and the next for as long as God allows. Solomon did the same for his sons in Ecclesiastes and since his wisdom is preserved in the canon of scripture, we have the benefit of learning from him as well. Yet with Biblical illiteracy on the rise and the spiritual climate hostile toward Christ and the Church, the world largely ignores the lessons, calling them antiquated or worse, preferring to make its own mistakes.
The world at large does not look to scripture as either Truth or wisdom because they have not believed in the One who is Truth, nor are they inhabited by the Spirit of Truth. It is to us, who have received by faith in Jesus the gift of God unto salvation, that Holy scripture speaks, teaching us what is true and making us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.2.NLT
Every generation thinks it knows better than the last, yet we’ve seen repeatedly, historically that nations rise and fall by the same assumptions. We’ve read so many books and seen so many movies that we’ve bought into the idea of evolving beyond, of outpacing our own humanity yet the only way that human nature can be transformed is by God. We reason that we’ve learned from our mistakes or the mistakes of others but we lack the power to affect long term change in our own lives and we cannot dictate, legislate, or enforce our will on another. No form of government will solve all the world’s problems. What’s the oft quoted definition of insanity? Doing the same thing while expecting a different result.
Solomon said, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”?
It has been already in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.1.9-11.ESV
As Paul the apostle wrote to young pastor Timothy, his son in the faith, “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” (I Timothy 1:19)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.5-7.NLT
Paul continues, “When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.
Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees.
These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
But some people have missed this whole point.
They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.”
1 Timothy 1:3-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.1.3-19.NLT
“Preach the word of God.
Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.
They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
2 Timothy 4:2-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.4.2-5.NLT
We who, like Timothy, have believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God have become watchmen like Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 3:17-19) We have the good news of Jesus and the spirit of God indwells us. We have been commissioned by Jesus to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all Christ commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20) When we, like unregenerate Paul, kick against the goads, fighting against God’s good, pleasing and perfect plan for our lives, when we ignore the lessons of scripture and insist on learning the hard way, we may be saved ourselves, but only as through fire. (Acts 26:14, Romans 12:2, I Corinthians 3:15) The enemy of our souls, Satan, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8) Let us shine the Light of Christ, even in our brokenness, and snatch from the jaws of the lion as many as possible, delivering them instead to the feet of the Lion of Judah. (Revelation 5:5)
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:5-7 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.7.ESV
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.4.3-4.ESV
So we pray for God “to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.
Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Jesus.’”
Acts of the Apostles 26:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.26.18.NLT
“Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.
Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
2 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.1-2.NLT
“Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.””
Matthew 9:36-38 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.9.36-38.ESV
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